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A 

BRIEF 

HISTORY 

OF 

OLD 

FORT 

NIAGARA 



A BRIEF HISTORY 



OLD FORT NIAGARA 



PETER A. PORTER. 



Photographs by ORRIN E. DUNLAP. 



NIAGARA FALLS. 
1896. 



. A/7? r-r 



CurvMGHT, iSq6, r.v PETER A. PORTEM 






MADE IN 

1 HE COMI'LEl E ART-PRINTING WOKKS 

OF 

THE MATTHEVVS-NORTHRUP CO 

BUFHiy-O.'N. Y. 



THIS SKETCH 
OF THE 

HISTORY OF OLD FORT NIAGARA 

is inscribed to the memory of 

Orsamus H. Marshall, 

the historian of the niagara frontier, 

at whose suggestion 

the author commenced the study 

OF THE 
HISTORY OF THIS LOCALITY, 



INTRODUCTION. 



^ f ^H E TITLE of this pamphlet, read literally, correctly 
states the aim of the author. His desire has been 
to write a "brief" history of "old" Fort Niagara. 

Of the history of "modern" Fort Niagara, that is, 
from 1S25. since which time it has not been considered a 
defensive work, no attempt has been made to treat. 

Numerous authorities have been quoted in support of 
historical facts ; many more might have been quoted. To 
those who read this article from a desire to study the 
history of Fort Niagara these references will be valuable. 
It has also been thought desirable to make liberal quotations 
from documents and books referred to. 



A BRIEF HISTORY OF OLD FORT NIAGARA. 




.lAGARA is without exception the most important 
post in America and secures a greater number of 
communications, through a more extensive coun- 
tr)-, than perhaps any other pass in the world." So 
wrote Mr. Wynne in 1770/ and he undoubtedly 
expressed the opinion which both the French and 
the English then held and had held for the preced- 
ing hundred years. 
For probably no one spot of land in North America, the Heights 
of Quebec and the lower end of Manhattan Island alone excepted, 
had played so important a part, been so coveted and exerted so great 
an influence, both in peace and war, on the control, on the growth, 
on the settlement and on the civilization of the country, as this little 
point of land at the mouth of and on the eastern shore of the Niag- 
ara River, bounded on one side by that river and on the other side by 
Lake Ontario. 

And both Quebec and Manhattan Island had been settled for half 
a century before La Salle first saw this spot, whose importance as a 
stragetic point, in peace, in war, and in the interest of the fur trade 
he at once recognized; and as from La Salle came the first suggestion 
of a fort here, with his name must its earliest history be forever 
linked. 

And for nearly one hundred years after La Salle's first visit, the 
ministers and statesmen of both France and England, backed by all 
the power of their respective kingdoms, aided by their armies, their 
great generals and all their experienced colonial ofificers from the 
highest to the lowest, made the possession and fortification of this 
sm.all piece of land one of the main objective points of their respec- 
tive policies regarding their American possessions. 

The Niagara River " Onguiaahra, the famous river of the Neuter 
Nation," had been well known to the Jesuit missionaries as early as 
' British Empire in America, vol. II, page 102. Note. 



lo OLD FORT NIAGARA IN HISTORY. 

1640,' and by hearsay since at least 1626; and the fact that a 
great fall interrupted the passage of the Indians on their westward 
journeys had been announced by Lescarbot in his " Histoire de la 
Nouvelle France," published in 1609," in his description of Cartier's 
second voyage to America, made in 1535. 

And it was the knowledge of a carrying place around these falls 
that pointed out to those engaged in, and ambitious to control, the 
fur trade with the Western Indians, in which list La Salle stands 
out prominently, that a fortified store house at or near the end of 
this portage would be a priceless advantage to its possessors. 

And during the long period above referred to when France and 
England were making every effort to gain control of this locality, the 
fur traders rendered valuable services in furtherance of the ambitions 
of their respective nations, although, of course, these fur traders' object 
was a purely mercenary one. 

But the Indians, prompted thereto partly by the always enduring 
feuds between the Huron and Iroquois stocks, but mainly by their 
keen insight into the real ambitions of the white men — faithful and 
friendly to the French and the English alternately, but only as fear 
of their strength or benefits to be derived from them impelled — 
clearly foresaw the danger to their race if a stronghold was ever 
obtained at the portage, and persistently refused to allow one to be 
erected ; and it was only after a struggle of 50 years that France 
succeeded in getting near this spot a fortified structure, that prom- 
ised to be, and though soon after removed seven miles distant to the 
mouth of the river, proved to be, a permanency. 

THE INDIAN TITLE TO THE LAND. 

In tracing the history of Fort Niagara, it is desirable for us, es- 
pecially so far as the earliest claims of ownership of the territory 
in which it is located by France and England, are concerned, to look 
first at the Indian title to the land and their disposition thereof. 

As far back as we can get any authentic knowledge whatsoever 
the Neuter Nation owned and occupied this spot. They were prob- 
ably a powerful offshoot from the great Huron-Iroquois stock, 
and occupied all the territory north of Lake Erie from near the 
Detroit River eastward until their lands met those of the Iroquois 
near the Genesee River. 

' Jesuit Relation, published 1642, page 49, - Page 382. 



OLD FORT NIAGARA IN HISTORY. ii 

The Neuters derived their name from the fact that, while often at 
war with other tribes, they never warred with either the Iroquois or 
Hurons, between whom they were located. They counted 36 villages 
west of the Niagara River and four east of it,' and were a well-built and 
populous nation. 

Such a neutrality could not last, and while we do not know when 
the Neuters first became recognized as an independent nation (cer- 
tainly before 1600, for in 161 5 Champlain refers to them as an estab- 
lished tribe), we do know that it was in 165 i that the Senecas, the 
most westerly, the strongest numerically, as well as the most blood- 
thirsty of the Iroquois, attacked them on a slight pretext, and in a 
short and bloody campaign wiped them out of existence as a nation, 
the remnant that was spared being incorporated among their captors. 

The Senecas thenceforth, although it was over a hundred years 
before they occupied the Neuters' territory, claimed title to it by 
reason of this conquest, and among the Indian tribes the Senecas' 
claim seems to have been fully recognized. 

For, as we shall see later on, the Senecas granted La Salle im- 
portant rights on the Niagara River in 1679. 

In 1719 they gave Joncaire, a Frenchman who had been adopted into 
their nation, certain rights on this river, which were of direct benefit to 
the French, and refused equal rights to the English ; and, in 1725, they 
consented to the French building a stone fort at the mouth of the river. 

The Senecas, in common with all other Indian tribes, seem to have 
regarded their land deeds and their treaties as binding only so long 
as it suited their convenience. Again, some of their deeds embrace 
huge tracts of land, occupied by several tribes, the sachems or chiefs 
of which all joined in the deed of the whole territory, not specifying 
what portion each tribe owned. 

Those deeds that embrace the locality we are treating of, of 
course, bear on the subject in hand. 

CONFLICTING CLAIMS. 

Both France and England at an early date set up and steadily 
claimed title among other territory to this special locality. 

France, by reason generally of early discoveries and occupation 
by Champlain (who never was on the Niagara River), by Coureurs de 
Bois, by Jesuit missionaries and later by La Salle. 
' Jesuit relation, published 1642, pages 48 and 49. 



12 OLD FORT NIAGARA IN HISTORY. 

England claiming the whole continent by reason of its discovery 
by her early navigators, (who were not the first discoverers of the con- 
tinent,) maintaining a claim by the grant from James I. to Gorges, in 
1620, of the land from ocean to ocean, and from 40 to 48 degrees of 
latitude, and by other, though conflicting grants, none of them made 
good by occupation or actual sovereignty, and by her conquest of 
the Dutch at Manhattan. 

Parkman, writing of the period (1687) when French and English 
came in contact in the Senecas' territory, and set up their rival claims, 
says, " It is clear that the claim of prior discovery and occupation 
was on the side of the French."' 

Both the French and English claimed the Iroquois as subjects, 
but the Senecas especially always claimed independence. 

DEEDS FROM THE SENECAS. 

In 1684, the five nations gave England a protectorate over their 
lands," and in 1686 the English governor at New York set up the 
Duke of York's arms in all the castles of the Five Nations "as far as 
Oneigra." ' In 1687 the Five Nations assented, when James II. of 
England agreed to accept them as his subjects.* 

In 1701, the Senecas and other tribes deeded to William III., King 
of England, in trust a territory 800 miles by and 400 miles broad, 
"including, likewise, the Great Flails Oakinagaro." ^ The deed is 
signed by the totems of sachems of all the Five Nations. 

In 1726, the Senecas again deeded in trust to the English king a 
large tract of territory, including "all along the River of Oniagara."" 

But all these deeds seem to have been regarded even by the Eng- 
lish grantees as of little value, and it was not till 1764, as noted later 
on, that a specific deed of a comparatively small area of country, 
being that along both banks of the Niagara River, was regarded as 
perfect, and was recognized as finally transferring to the English the 
Indian title to this famous region. 

While Parkman, as above quoted, may be right as to the superior- 
ity of the French claims, by reason of prior discovery and occupation, 
if there was any right of title to this land in the Senecas, (and 1 
believe there was,) by conquest, the English certainly seem to have 
acquired at an early date, by deeds from the Indians, what they after- 

' Parkman, Frontenac and New France, page 161. ^ Col. Docs. N. Y., vol III, paj:e 
50S. •■'Col. Docs. N. Y , vol. Ill, page 396. *Col. Docs. N. Y., vol. Ill, page 503. 
■"^Col. Docs. N. Y., vol IV, page gcg. ''Col. Decs. N. Y., vol V, page 800. 



OLD FORT NIAGARA IN HISTORY. 13 

wards acquired by arms from tlie French, namely, the title to the 
land where Fort Niagara now stands. 

HISTORIC PERIODS. 

Recognizing, therefore, the title to the spot where Fort Niagara 
stands as vested in the Senecas after their conquest of the Neuters in 
165 I, we may divide its history into the following periods : 

Indian ownership, 1651-1669; Indian ownership, French influence 
predominating, 1669-1725 ; Indian ownership, French occupation, 
1 725-1 759; Indian ownership, English occupation, 1 759-1 764; Eng- 
lish ownership and occupation, 1759-1783; American ownership, 
English occupation, the "Hold-over Period," 1783-1796; American 
ownership and occupation, (excepting December 19, 1813, to March 
27, 1 81 5,) 1 796-1 896. 

Let us now take up this history in chronological order. 

LA SALLE'S FIRST VISIT. 

In 1669, La Salle, in company with Dollier de Casson and Rene de 
Gallinee, set out from Quebec for the Mississippi, and in his journal 
Gallinee tells of their passing near the mouth of the Niagara River 
and speaks of the Falls whose roar they heard,' this being the earliest 
known description of our Cataract. This date is generally accepted 
as that of La Salle's first visit to this section. 

Opposed to this, however, is the official statement of the Marquis 
de Nonville, dated July 31, 1687, that "La Salle had erected quarters 
at Niagara in 1668, which quarters were burnt by the Senecas 12 years 
ago," " that is in 1675. 

To my mind De Nonville, writing 18 years after La Salle's visit, 
made an error of one year, and should have written 1669. We know 
that La Salle was here in 1669, and a few days later was with his two 
companions above named at an Indian village near the present city 
of Hamilton, Canada, and here he met Joliet, who was on his way 
back to Quebec from Lake Superior.^ 

Separating from his two companions at this village September 30, 

1669, we next hear of La Salle "continuing his way on a river 

which goes from east to west, and passes to Onondaga, then to six or 

seven leagues below Lake Erie,"' " conceded to be the Ohio. 

' O. H. Marshall's writings, page 219, he quotes Gallinee's Journal. ^ Doc Hist. 
N. Y., vol. I, pages 150-1. ^O. H. Marshall's writings, page 223. ^ J. G. Shea, Bursting 
ot Margry's Bubble, page 16, he refers to Margry. 



14 OLD FORT NIAGARA hV HISTORY. 

In order to reach the Ohio La Salle must have retraced his steps 
eastward, and thus either crossed or passed the mouth of the Niag- 
ara River. 

He had several men with him; he may have tarried on the Niagara; 
he may have visited the Falls ; he probably built the quarters of which 
De Nonville tells. If he did build them, there is no reason why the 
Senecas should not have burnt them as stated. 

Certain it is that when La Salle returned to this locality in 
January, 1679, as described later on, he knew the country thoroughly ; 
he knew just where to land ; he intended to build a fort here ; he 
knew about the Falls, and he came with the intention, and fully 
prepared to build a vessel above them. It is, therefore, I submit, 
possible, and even probable, that in this unrecorded interval above 
referred to La Salle made a careful study of the surroundings 
here, and built the house to which De Nonville refers. 

LA SALLE'S SECOND VISIT. 

In 1678, La Salle projected an expedition to the far West, and 
on November i8th, of that year. La Motte, Hennepin and fourteen 
others started from Fort Frontenac in a brigantine of 10 tons for 
Niagara, and on the 6th of December they rounded the point where 
Fort Niagara now stands, and anchored their vessel in " the beauti- 
ful River Niagara, which no bark had ever yet entered." ' 

On this point of land was a fishing village of the Senecas, white 
fish then, as now, being abundant in the river at this spot.'^ All the 
land was covered with a dense thicket. On this point of land, on 
December 11, 1678, Hennepin said the first mass that had ever been 
celebrated in this territory.' In a letter written by him to the Prince 
de Conti, dated October 31, 1678, just before Hennepin and his com- 
rades sailed. La Salle wrote that Tonti, who was to accompany him, 
was setting out to build a new fort 200 leagues away, near Niagara 
Falls, to which he (La Salle) had taken the liberty to give the name 
of Fort Conti.' 

The vessel and crew remained at this spot from the 6th to the 15th 
of December, and the carpenters Avere at work.' 

" It is at the mouth of Lake Frontenac (Ontario) that a fort was 

begun," wrote Hennepin," "but the Iroquois took umbrage, so that, as 

• Hennepin. Louisiana, 1683, page 23. - Hennepin. Louisiana, 16S3, page 32. ''Henne- 
pin, Louisiana, 1683, page 24. * Parkman, Discovery of tiie Great West, page 118. 
•'' Hennepin, New Discovery, 1698, page 50. ''Hennepin, Louisiana, 1683, page 30. 



OLD FORT NIAGARA IN HISTORY. 15 

we were not in a position to resist them, we contented themselves 
with building there a house defended by palisades, which is called 
Fort Conti, and the place is naturally defensive, and beside it there is 
a very fine harbor for barks to retire to in security." ' In a later work 
he adds that it was built on the east side of the Niagara River at its 
mouth." Prevented from erecting a regular fort at the mouth of the 
River, La Motte, acting probably under explicit instructions from La 
Salle, took his vessel and crew up the river, to where Lewiston now 
stands, where he wanted to erect a store-house. His orders evidently 
were to try and build a fort at the mouth of the river ; failing in that — 
as he had — to build a store-house at the foot of the portage, which 
would aid him in the fur trade, which the Indians might permit, and 
which would give a foothold, and could be used as trading-post, and 
gradually fortified, till such time as a real fort could be built and main- 
tained at the river's mouth. If these were La Salle's plans, and I 
believe they were, he only anticipated history by some fifty years, for, 
as will be seen later, it was by this very plan and on this very spot 
that the French ultimately built a fortified store-house of some pre- 
tentions, which served all their purposes, military and commercial, 
till they obtained permission to build a stone fort on the coveted point 
of land. 

On the site of Lewiston La Motte's men built their cabin, fortified 
with palisades,' using hot water to thaw the frozen ground. Here 
La Salle soon joined them. He had left Fort Frontenac some time 
after La Motte's departure, for the site of his projected Fort Conti at 
the mouth of the Niagara River, but, narrowly escaping shipwreck, 
landed at the mouth of the Genesee River. He visited the chief 
Seneca village, met the chiefs, and obtained from them their consent, 
(which, but a few days before, they had refused to La Motte and Henne- 
pin,) to the building of a vessel above the cataract and the estab- 
lishing of a fortified warehouse at the mouth of the river.' 

His first work was the building of his vessel above the Falls, and 
after having located the place of building, and having seen the keel 
laid, he led a sergeant and a number of men to the mouth of the 
river, in order at once to take advantage of the Senecas' consent to 

' Hennepin, Louisiana, 1683, page 31. • Hennepin, Nouville Decouverte, 1697, page 48. 
■^ Parkman, La Salle and Discovery of Great West, page 126, he quotes Tonty, Relation. 
1684, Margry, vol. I, page 573 Tonti, La Salle's Last Discoveries, 169S. page 20. 
■* Parkman, La Salle and Discovery of the Great West, page 128, he quotes Letter de 
La Salle, Margry, vol. II, page 32. 



1 6 OLD FORT NIAGARA IN HISTORY. 

his building a fortified warehouse there — a project specially dear to 
his heart. 

Flere on the famous point of land, in February, 1679, La Salle 
marked out the foundations of two block-houses,' set his men to work, 
and started on foot for Fort Frontenac. 

In accordance with his promise to that Prince, he called these block- 
houses Fort Conti. They seemed to have been finished and occu- 
pied, but after a few months — probably about July, — through the 
carelessness of the sergeant in command, were destroyed by fire." 

Let us note the date, December, 1678, when La Motte commenced 
a ffM't and January, 1679, when La Salle himself started the work- 
on his block-houses on this historic spot. 

When La Salle arrived again at Niagara, in August, 1679, his fort 
was in ashes; his creditors and his enemies had well nigh ruined 
him. His vessel, the Grififin, however, was ready to sail west- 
ward. In the money he hoped to get through trading for furs on 
her voyage, lay his only immediate hope of financial aid. He aban- 
doned everything else in order not to delay this enterprise. Under 
such circumstances even his much-cherished plan of a fort at the 
mouth of the Niagara River was forgotten, for he had neither the 
heart nor the means to rebuild the burnt block-houses. 

For the next few years, Niagara, meaning both the point at the 
mouth of the river and the store-house at Lewiston, the two being 
closely connected in the plans of the French for their ownership, 
often appears in the official correspondence of both France and Eng- 
land, the former being much the more closely identified with the 
locality. 

DE NONVILLE'S fort. 

In 16S5 the Marquis de Nonville became governor of New France. 
In an official letter from Quebec, dated May 6, 16S6, urging the hum- 
bling of the Iroquois, he says: " What I should consider most efTect- 
ual to accomplish this would be the establishment of a right good 
post at Niagara. 

"The manner in which the English have managed with the Iro- 
quois hitherto, when desirous to establish themselves in their neigh- 
borhood, has been to make them presents for the purchase of the soil 

1 Parkman, I-aSal'e and Discovery of the Great West, page 135, he quotes Letter of La 
Salle, Margry, vol. II, page 229, and Relation de Tonty, 16S4. Margry, vol. I, page 577. 
Winsor Nar. and Crit. History of Am , vol. IV, page 223. -Parkman, LaSalie and Dis- 
covery of the Great West, page 135. Note. 



OLD FORT NIAGARA IN HISTORY. 17 

and llie property of the land they wish to occupy. What I see most 
certain is, whether we act so by them, or have peace or war with 
them, they will submit with considerable impatience to see a fort at 
Niagara.'" 

He wanted a " fort sufificiently large to contain a force of four or 
five hundred men to make war on them ; enclosed by a simple ordi- 
nary picket fence to place it be}'ond all insult,"' but to this suggestion 
he received from France no favorable reply. 

Early in 1686 Dongan, the English Governor at New York, had 
also suggested to his government the erection of an English fort at 
the spot.^ 

During the winter of 1686-7 De Nonville made his preparations 
to attack the Senecas, partly to punish them for having burnt La 
Salle's house at Niagara in 1675,' and generally because of their 
unceasing hostility to all French plans. He sent word to the western 
Indian allies of France and the French troops in the West to meet 
him at Niagara in July, 1687. 

It is not within the scope of our title to treat of that part of this 
expedition that chastised the Senecas in the Genesee Valley. After 
that he assembled his French forces and Indian allies at Irondequot 
Bay, and on July 24, 1687, he embarked for Niagara, reaching there 
on July 30th ; and he at once set his troops to work to build that fort 
which he had so strongly advocated. The fact that France and Eng- 
land were at peace, and that England claimed the Senecas under her 
protection, counted for nothing with De Nonville. 

He selected for the location of the fort "the angle of the lake on 
the Seneca side of the river; it is the most beautiful, the most pleas- 
ing and the most advantageous site that is on the whole of this 
lake."' 

He also states in an official letter, "The post I have fortified at 
Niagara is not a novelty, since Sieur de La Salle had a house there 
which is in ruins since a year."' So De Nonville's fort must have been 
on the site of La Salle's block-houses, and it was the first real defen- 
sive work erected here. 

Baron La Hontan was among the officers of De Nonville's com- 
mand, and he describes the work as " a fort of pales, with four bas- 
tions," and says it " stands on the south side of the Streights of Herrie 

' Doc. Hist. N. Y., vol. I , p. 127. -Doc. Hist. N. Y., vol. I., page 127. *Col. 
Docs. N. Y., v.>l III , page 394. •'Doc. Hist, of N. Y., vol. I., page 150. M)oc. Ht^t. 
of N. Y . vol. I., page 147. ''Col Dors, of N. Y , vol. IX., page 349. 



1 8 OLD FORT NIAGARA IN HISTORY. 

Lake, upon a hill, at the foot of which that lake falls into the Lake 
of Frontenac."' 

De Nonville, in his report, says: "The inconvenience of this post 
is that timber is at a distance from it."^ So the pales had to be cut 
some ways off, floated to the point and drawn up the steep banks, all 
involving much labor, and as it* took but three days to complete the 
entire fort it must have been a rather weak affair.^ 

On July 31, 1687, De Nonville, in presence of his army, took for- 
mal possession of the fort in the name of the French king, and issued 
a proclamation, signed by himself and officers, to that effect.'' 

This fort was called after its builder. Fort De Nonville, but the 
earlier name, Niagara, clung to it. " De Nonville " had no designa- 
tion of locality attached to it, " Niagara " had, and Fort Niagara it 
has been ever since. De Nonville started for Quebec on the com- 
pletion of the fort, leaving a garrison of lOO men, under command of 
De Troyes, with an eight months' supply of provisions. 

Misfortune brooded over the fort from its completion. No 
sooner had the main body of the French departed, and their Indian 
allies scattered, than the Senecas, more angered than crippled by 
De Nonville's crusade against them in the Genesee Vallej', appeared 
before the fort in large numbers and vented their rage on the 
unhappy garrison. Eight hundred of them laid siege to the place 
and no Frenchman " dared venture out for hunting, fishing or fire- 
wood." "'' 

Besides the misery of being thus cooped up in a small fort, and 
always on the alert for assaults, scurvy set in among the French. 
The provisions, though plentiful, were of a bad quality; many of the 
men died. " The fort was first a prison, then a hospital, then 
a charncl house,"" till by spring but 12 men out of the 100 sur- 
vived. 

No sooner did Dongan, the English Governor at New York, 
hear that De Nonville had built a fort at Niagara than he entered 
a most vigorous protest against such a step, and demanded its 
destruction.'^ A long and spirited correspondence between these two 
representatives of France and England followed, in which the 
claims of priority of discovery, the ownership of this particular 

' La Hontan, English ed., 1703, vol. I., page 78. - Doc. Hist. N.Y., vol. I., page 14S. 
■*Col. Docs. N. Y., vol. IX., page 368. -^ Doc. Hist, of N. Y., vol. I., page 144. 
'■" Parkman, Frontenac, page 166, he quotes De Nonville Memoire, 10th August, 1686. 
'■ Parkman, Fontenac, page 166. 'Col. Docs. N. Y., vol. III., page 516. 



OLD FORT NIAGARA IN HISTORY. 19 

territory, and the allegiance of the Iroquois, particularly the Senecas, 
were set up by both sides and the claims of each ridiculed by 
the other. 

De Nonville's recent attack on the Senecas made it easy for 
Dongan to obtain their adherence to his views. De Nonville was 
extremely anxious for peace with the Iroquois just now, at almost 
any price. Dongan shrewdly referred some of the points in dispute 
to a meeting of the Iroquois chieftains,' and these warriors declared 
they would make no peace, nor even a truce, until certain conditions, 
one of the most prominent of these being the destruction of all the 
French forts on the lakes, were complied with.^ 

In November, 1687, James II. of England consented to take the 
Iroquois, or Five Nations, as his subjects,'' and conferences were 
opened at London to adjust the many differences between France 
and England. 

While their masters were negotiating, Dongan was materially 
strengthening his position and his relations with the Iroquois, until 
De Nonville, fearful of losing both Fort Frontenac and Fort Niagara, 
decided to abandon Niagara, as demanded by the English and Iro- 
quois, and so expressed his intention to Dongan, as his letter says, 
" in order to contribute to a permanent peace." ■* 

The garrison of 100 men, left by De Nonville at Fort Niagara, 
July 31, 1687, had been reduced to about a dozen by the end of April, 
1688, when a large party of Miamis, allies of the French, arrived, en- 
tered the fort, and defended it and the little garrison till a company 
of French soldiers came to its relief.^ 

On July 6, 1688, De Nonville issued the promised order for the 
abandonment of Fort Niagara." What a pang it must have cost him I 
He sacrificed Niagara in the expectation of saving Frontenac. As it 
turned out he lost that also soon afterwards. 

On September 15, 1688, Desbergeres, who on De Troyes' death 

had succeeded him as commandant of Niagara, assembled his 

men in the fort, read De Nonville's order to them, and gave 

directions for obeying it. The palisades were torn down, but the 

cabins and quarters were left standing, according to the order. "A 

written memorandum of the condition in which we leave said 

quarters, which will remain entire to maintain the possession His 

•Col. Docs. N. Y., vol. ]II , page 533. "-^ Col. Docs. N. Y., vol. III., 534. 'Col. 
Docs. N. Y., vol III , page 503, '^Col. Docs. N'. Y., vol. 111., page 556. ^ Parkman, 
Frontenac, page 160. " Doc. lli.st. N. Y., vol. I , page 16S. 



20 



OLD FORT NIAGARA IN HISTORY. 



Majesty and the French have for a long time had in this Niagara dis- 
trict " was prepared. 

In this memorandum it appears there was, first, in the centre of 
the square a large wooden cross, eighteen feet in height, erected on 
Good Friday, 1688, solemnly blessed by Rev. Father Millet, on the 
arms of which in large letters were inscribed : 

REGN. VINC. (^ IMP. CHRS. 
(Regnat, Vincit, Imperat Christus — Christ reigneth. conquereth, ruleth.) 




Among the buildings mentioned was a cabin for the commander, 
with a good chimney, a door and windows with fastenings. 

Another with two rooms, a chimney, and window in each, etc. 

Father Millet's cabin, with chimney, windows and sash. 

A cabin opposite the Cross, with a board ceiling. 

Still another cabin, a bake-house and an apartment at the end 
thereof. 

A large and extensive frame building, with a double door, three 
windows, no chimney, floored with planks, and clapboarded outside. 
No doubt, the chapel. 

A large store house, and a well wi-th a cover. 



OLD FORT NIAGARA IN HISTORY. 21 

This interesting document will be found in full in Documentary 
History of New York, volume I., page 168, and in Colonial Documents 
of New York, volume IX., page 387. 

A waiting vessel conveyed the garrison to Fort Frontenac. 

So ends one chapter — De Nonville had succeeded in fortifying 
Niagara, as France desired; but Indian cunning and ferocity, stirred 
on by English intrigue, and backed by England's demand, had com- 
pelled its demolition as England wanted. 

1688 — 1719. 

De Nonville was soon after recalled, and French policy hereafter 
was more of a cultivation of good will towards the Senecas especially, 
and the Iroquois generally. Always at variance with the five nations, 
because of the latter's leaning toward the English, henceforth, in time 
of peace, France cajoled them, and in time of war awed them by 
attack. 

As for the English, they did not cultivate the Indians' friendship, 
henceforth, as successfully as did the French. 

The regaining of Niagara was one of the main reasons for France's 
more conciliatory attitude towards the Iroquois, from this time on ; 
and while over 30 years elapsed before she again had a fort there, its 
possession to her was worth the delay. 

It was of more importance to her each year. Her fur trade was 
being directed to New York, and her possession of Niagara would 
largely restore it to Quebec. Niagara was the key to the control of 
the four upper lakes, as well as to the Valley of the Ohio, and it was 
the most important link in that great chain of fortifications she was 
building to connect her Canadian domain with that great western 
territory, which she claimed, and which was called Louisiana. 

During the next thirty years, the attention of both France and 
England was constantly turned to Niagara. Several proposals were 
made by the respective Governors at Quebec and New York to their 
Governments for the erection of a fort at Niagara, some of these 
proposals being made when the two countries were at war, and some 
while they were at peace. 

The peace of Ryswick, 1697, found France in possession of the St. 
Lawrence and Mississippi valleys, but still without the fort at Niag- 
ara. But France was losing no chance to strengthen her position 
with the Iroquois, who were still friends of England, and, as France 



22 OLD FORT NIAGARA IN HISTORY. 

ratified a treaty with them in 1701, when England declared war in 
1702, the neutrality of the Iroquois was secured and the war con- 
fined to New England. 

A PVench plan to seize Niagara was submitted to the Court in 
1706, but the alternative and elaborate suggestion of " having recourse 
to peace and mildness" seems to have better met the royal view.' 

Article 15 of the peace of Utrecht, 171 3, declared the five nations 
" subject to the dominion of Great Britain ; " but as this, literally con- 
strued, would have been an acknowledgment that the land on the 
Niagara was under England's rule, the French diplomats claimed a 
decided distinction between the "five nations being subject to, and 
their lands being subject to England." Indeed, it was contended 
that Niagara was in the Province of New York under this treaty 
clause,'^ and a protest was made by Clinton against the French trying 
to occupy it. 

In 1716 another recommendation for a fort at Niagara was sent 
from Quebec to France.^ 

It was through the influence of Chabert Joncaire, a Frenchman, 
that France was soon to obtain on the Niagara at Lewiston, a foot- 
hold which was merely a stepping-stone to the fort at the mouth 
of the river. This lad, taken a prisoner by the Senecas, his life 
spared, adopted into the tribe, and marrying a Seneca squaw, ob- 
tained great influence with the warriors. In 1700 he entered the 
French service, and continued therein till his death, forty years 
after, and this does not seem to have lessened the fondness of the 
Iroquois for him; for, in 1706, in the "proposal to take possession 
of Niagara," it is stated " the Iroquois actually suggest to him to 
establish himself among them, granting him liberty to select on 
their territory the place most acceptable to himself for the pur- 
pose of living there in peace, and even to remove their villages to 
the neighborhood of his residence, in order to protect him."^ 

In 17 18 orders came from France to extend the French trade 
and to erect magazines therefor. 

joncaire's cabin at lewiston. 
In the fall of 1719 the French were on very friendly terms with 
the Senecas, and the time had come to test Joncaire's popularity 

'Col. Doc. of N. Y., vol. IX., page 773. "Col. Docs. N. Y., vol. IX., page 1061. 
^Col. Doc. of N. Y., vol. IX., page 874 ■'Col. Doc. N. Y., vol. IX , page 773. 



OLD FORT NIAGARA IN HISTORY. 23 

with them, and he was sent to "try the minds of the Senecas, to 
see if they woidd consent to the (French ) building a house on their 
land, and to maintain that settlement in case the English would 
oppose it." ' 

It is more than probable that he was instructed in case the 
Senecas refused this French request, to take up their old offer to 
him of a location of a cabin for himself, and to locate it near 
the foot of the portage. In any event, his influence and his pres- 
ents obtained the desired consent, and early in 1720 he erected a bark 
cabin at Lewiston, on the river, hoisted a flag over it and called it 
" Magazine Royal." ^ 

The English at first used every means to have it destroyed, ap- 
pealing to the Senecas; but Joncaire's influence prevailed against 
that of Peter Schuyler and Philip Livingston, and it remained. 

Joncaire seems promptly to have enlarged it, for it is referred 
to as a block-house, forty feet long and thirty feet wide, enclosed 
with palisades, " musket proof, with portholes for firing with small 
arms," in November, 1720,' and Joncaire was its commandant. 

Failing to have this house demolished, the English demanded 
permission to have a similar house at the same place, and this, too, 
the Senecas refused. ^ 

Thus France again secured an entering wedge to the erection of 
a fort at the mouth of the river. These locations of Lewiston and 
Fort Niagara, both referred to in the correspondence of these early 
days as " Niagara," must not be confounded. Lewiston was at the 
exact foot of the portage, and at the head of navigation on the river, 
so the excuse of " a store-house " could be made for erecting a de- 
fensive work there, that could not be made concerning such a build- 
ing where Fort Niagara now stands, seven miles away. 

Charlevoix, in 1721, visited Joncaire's house, which he calls "a 
cabin to which they have already given the name of a fort, for they 
say with reason that in time it will become a veritable fortress."" 
Charlevoix's work was not published till 1744, and in a note on the 
same page he adds: "The fort has since been built at the mouth of 
the Niagara River, on the same side and at the exact spot where M. 
de Nonville had built one." 

'Col. Docs. N. Y., vol. v., page 588. -Col. Docs. N. Y., vol. V., page 588. ^Col. 
Doc. N. Y., vol. v., page 577. * Charlevoix Histoire de la Nouvelle France, 1744, vol. 
III., page 227. ^Charlevoix, Histoire de la Nouvelle France, vol. III., page 225. 



24 OLD FORT NIAGARA IN HISTORY. 

A later traveler, at the time a guest of Gov. Simcoe, at Niagara, 
says of the fort : " It was originally constructed by Mr. de la Ton- 
quiere (Joncaire), three miles nearer the Falls, but was some years 
afterwards transferred to the spot where it now stands and where 
Mr. de Nonville threw up an entrenchment." ' 

La Salle's palisaded store-house at Lewiston, built 1679, had no 
doubt disappeared when Joncaire's cabin was erected. 

This fortified trading post of Joncaire's was a most important 
center for the next five years. It was the headquarters of French 
influence in this section. A few soldiers were maintained there under 
the name of "traders," the trade in furs was brisk, the Indians from 
the north, west and south coming there to barter. The chain of friend- 
ship with the Senecas was kept bright by friendly intercourse with 
their warriors, who constantly came there, French trading vessels 
often anchored at its rude wharf, bringing merchandise from Fronte- 
nac and returning laden with furs. 

Thus the English for the first time failed to overcome the French 
influence with the Senecas and could not succeed in ousting them 
from their foothold on the Niagara. 

In 1721, Gen. Hunter again recommended the erection of an 
English fort at Niagara^ supplementing the same suggestions made 
in 1720 by the authorities of Albany and Governor Burnet.^ 

STONE FORT AT THE MOUTH OF THE RIVER. 

Thus matters progressed in the interest of the French till 1725, 
when the Marquis De Vaudreuil gave notice that he proposed to 
build a stone house at Niagara\and in the fall of that year Longueil 
met the deputies of the five several Iroquois Nations at Onontague, 
and got them to consent to the erection of a stone house at Niagara, 
the plan of which he designed, and which was to cost 29,295 livres,'* 
equal to $5,592. Acting on this consent, he at once sent 100 men to 
hurry on the work." 

The Senecas made no serious opposition to the work, though it 
is probable it required all Joncaire's influence to induce them to 
reject the demands which the four other tribes of the five nations, 
appealed to and instigated by the English at New York, made, first 

' Rochefoucault's Travels, 1799, vol. I , page 257. - Col. Doc. N. Y., vol. V., page 561. 
'Col. Doc. N. Y., vol. v., page 572 and 579. * Col. Docs. N. Y., vol. IX., page 952 
* Col. Doc. N. Y., vol. IX , page 953 and 95S. " Col. Doc. N. Y., vol. IX., page 958. 



OLD FORT NIAGARA IN HISTORY. 25 

for the stoppage and later for the destruction of the structure, 
although they had previously given them consent, under French 
influence, to its erection. 

This consent of the Iroquois (Senecas) to the French erecting a 
house at Niagara was ratified July 14, 1726, at a council held at 
Niagara.' 

This house, commonly called the "Mess House" or "Castle," 
begun in 1725, was not fully completed till along in 1726.' 

Samuel DeVeaux, a resident of Niagara Falls, wrote in 1839: 

" It is a traditionary story that the Mess House, which is a very 
strong building and the largest in the fort, was erected by stratagem, 
A considerable, though not powerful, body of French troops had 
arrived at the point. Their force was inferior to the surrounding 
Indians, of whom they were under some apprehensions. They ob- 
tained consent of the Indians to build a wigwam, and induced them, 
with some of their ofificers, to engage in an extensive hunt. The 
materials had been made ready and while the Indians were absent the 
French built. When the parties returned at night they had advanced 
so far with the work as to cover their faces and to defend themselves 
against the savages in case of an attack."^ 

Report says that the stone was brought from Frontenac. DeWitt 
Clinton wrote in 18 10: "Considering the distance and the monstrous 
mass of stone one would think this impossible. As the stones about 
the windows are different and more handsome than those which com- 
pose the building, the probability is that the former only were brought 
from Fort Frontenac and that the latter are the common stone of the 
country."^ He gave the dimensions of the house as 105 x 47 feet. 

Whether openly or by a ruse the French built the first story of the 
Mess House, the largest and strongest of the buildings ever built on 
the point of land up to this time, and the Indians, who had promised 
that the French should not be molested while they were occupied in 
the work of building the house they had obtained permission for, 
seem to have kept their word. Thus we come to the first permanent 
fort at this spot, and a fort has been maintained here continuously 
ever since. 

Joncaire's block-house at Lewiston seems to have been allowed to 
fall into decay. Early in 1727 Louis XV., King of France, approved 

'Col. Doc. N. Y., vol v., page 803. * Doc. Hist, of N. Y., vol. I., pa:4e 291. ^ The 
Falls of Niagara, 1839, page ug ''Life of DeWitt Clinton. 1849, page 124. 



OLD FORT NIAGARA IN HISTORY. 27 

plans for having it rebuilt that fall, at the same time ap{)roving of the 
location of the house at the mouth of the river, because it would 
prevent the English from trading on the north shore of Lake Ontario 
and seizing the Niagara River, which was the passage to the uoper 
countries.' Still, as it did not command the portage, he was willing 
to expend 20,430 livres to repair the house that did." 

No doubt his wiser counselors advised differently, for the order 
was revoked^ and Joncaire's block house was abandoned in 1728. 

That building had done good service; it had given the French the 
desired foothold on the Niagara River; it had held and fostered the 
trade in furs; it had established French supremacy in this region, and 
furnished them with the key to the possession of the Upper Lakes 
and the Ohio Valley; and last, and most important of all, it had been 
the means of France obtaining a real fortress at the point where her 
diplomats and armies had been waiting to erect one for over half a 
century. It had served its purposes, a fort had been built at the 
mouth of the river, its usefulness was ended and it was abandoned 
for ever. 

1 72 5- 1 744. 

This new French fort. Fort Niagara, from this time on was grad- 
ually improved and strengthened, from time to time. Some works of 
defense must have been constructed at once, for, in September, 1736, 
an official report says : " Niagara is well fortified. It had only six 
guns, but Choueguen (Oswego) has furnished 24 of the largest calibre, 
which are now mounted. People are busy supplying Forts Duquesne, 
Niagara and Frontenac with provisions." ^ 

Still, even the possession of the long coveted fort did not give the 
French that absolute control of the fur trade that they had expected. 
From 1727 to 1736 England obtained by far the larger portion of the 
Indian traffic by means of a liberal sale and distribution of brandy, 
the "fire water" of the Indians, at the trading post she had built at 
Oswego in 1722. The French authorities, relying on their advantages 
of location had made decided efforts to discontinue this liquor traffic, 
largely, no doubt, through the influence of the priests and mission- 
aries of the Catholic Church, and at Niagara the supply of brandy 
furnished was very limited. 

' Col. Docs. N Y., vol. IX., page 964. 2 Col. Docs. N. Y . vol. IX , page 965. ''Col. 
Docs. N. Y., vol. IX., page 1003. •*Col. Docs. N. Y., vol. X., page 481. 



28 OLD FORT NIAGARA IN HISTORY. 

In October, 1736, an official report by Beauharnois and Hocquart to 
France, says : " As for the commerce now carried on at Fort Frontenac 
and Niagara it becomes every year more inconsiderable in comparison 
to the expenses the king incurs there. These two posts, which pro- 
duced some years ago as much as 52,000 lbs. of peltries, have these 
four years past returned only 25,000 to 35,000 lbs. This falling off 
has occurred merely since the discontinuance of the distribution of 
brandy to the Indians, whereof it is the king's pleasure that Messrs. 
de Beauharnois and Hocquart be very sparing. . . . We admit 
that it is difificult, and perhaps impossible, to sell brandy to the 
major portion of the Indians without their getting drunk. But it 
is equally certain that nothing deters them from trading with the 
French in these posts, and anywhere else in the upper countries, 
more than the refusal to sell them any of this liquor for which they 
entertain an inexpressible fondness. They find plenty of it at 
Choueguen (Oswego), where they repair from all the posts of the 
upper countries without any means of stopping them at Niagara. 
Sieurs de Beauharnois and Hocquart perceive, unfortunately, no 
means of destroying or interrupting the commercial relation this 
drink keeps up between the Indians and the English." ' 

Thus it is clear that as between the obtaining and the not obtain- 
ing of drink, the extra travel of over 100 miles made no difference to 
the Indians of this early date, and the English took full advantage of 
the commercial benefits thus to be derived over their more con- 
scientious French adversaries. 

In 1739, the pickets of the fort were falling down and were 
repaired.^ 

In 1 741, the Governor of New York reported that he held the 
Five Nations only by presents, and that it would be absolutely 
necessary to take Fort Niagara.' 

In 1745, there were 100 men and four cannon at Fort Niagara. 
Later, the French policy of not selling brandy to the Indians was 
reversed. 

In 1750 Sir William Johnson wrote that a friend of his had seen 

a letter from the Lord Lieutenant at Quebec to the Commander at 

Fort Niagara, authorizing him to hold the Indian trade, " even if it 

cost the Crown 30,000 livres a year, and also to supply them with 

what rum and brandy they wanted." 

'Col. Doc. N. Y., vol. IX , page 1049. "Col. Doc. N. Y., vol. IX., page 106S. 
3 Col. Docs. N. Y., vol. VI., page 186. 



OLD FORT NIAGARA IN HISTORY. 29 

France saw the growing power of England, and recognized that 
the great contest for supremacy in North America was near at hand, 
and tried every conceivable effort to strengthen herself. 

In 1751, Fort Niagara was further strengthened." 

In 175 1, Father Picquet visited the fort. lie describes it "as 
well located for defense, not being commanded from any point, but 
the rain was washing the soil away by degrees, notwithstanding the 
vast expense which the king incurred to sustain it.'"" 

During the French possession of Fort Niagara, beginning in 1726, 
and ending in 1759, that fortress served many purposes and yearly 
increased in importance. 

As the most important military post on the lakes, as a stand- 
ing means of overawing the Indians, as the greatest trading post 
in the country, and as a center of French influence, it held such 
a commanding position that England was determined ultimately to 
own it. 

Rumor says, and what circumstantial evidence we have tends to 
prove it, that during French rule it was also used as a State prison, 
as were many of the French fortresses, distant from France, in those 
days. 

S. DeVeaux says, "The dungeon of the Mess House, called the black 
hole, was a strong, dark and dismal place, and in one corner of the 
room was fixed the apparatus for strangling such unhappy wretches 
as fell under the displeasure of the despotic rulers of those days. The 
walls of this dungeon, from top to bottom, had engraved upon them 
French names and mementoes in that language. That the prisoners 
were no common persons was clear, as the letters and emblems were 
chiseled out in good style. In June, 1812, when an attack was 
momentarily expected upon the fort by a superior British force, a 
merchant, resident at Fort Niagara, deposited some valuables in this 
dungeon. He took occasion one night to visit it with a light. He ex- 
amined the walls and there, among hundreds of French names, he 
saw his own family name engraved in large letters." '^ 

This dungeon is a room 6 by 18 feet in size, and 10 feet high, 
whose stone walls and arched stone roof contains no aperture for 
light or air. It is on the first floor, and is to-day perfectly accessible. 
The well of the castle was located in it. 

' Winsor, Nar. and Crit. Hist, of Am , vol. V., page 490. "^ Doc. Hist. N. Y., vol. I., 
page 283. 3 The Falls of Niagara, 1839, page 120. 



30 OLD FORT NIAGARA IN HISTORY. 

Deveaux was of French descent, born in the latter part of the 
l8th century, and during the early years of this century lived 
at Fort Niagara. 

Another statement of his that " this old fort is as much noted for 
enormity and crime as for any good ever derived from it by the 
nation in occupation " is probably not far from the truth. 

As improvements and extensions were made in the fortifications, 
Fort Niagara became a place of great strength, and was, and had been 
for some years when England captured it, the most important spot 
in North America south of Montreal or west of Albany. 

The fortifications at one period are said to have covered a space of 
nearly eight acres. It was a little city in itself, and the commander 
was the most important man in, and the practical ruler of, a vast 
tract of country. 

Included within this acreage were the various buildings and forti- 
fications directly connected with the fort proper, and the buildings 
required for a vast trading post. The gardens, which were main- 
tained by the officers, were located east of the fortifications on 
the bluff overlooking the lake. 

Tiie cemetery, outside the fortifications, was " a few rods from 
the barrier gate, and filled with the memorials of the mutability 
of human life." Over the portal of its entrance, in large letters, was 
the word " Rest," which, if the fort was used as a state prison, must 
have been full of significance to the unhappy prisoners, at least. 

Its location was probably the same as that of the garrison 
cemetery of to-day, beneath whose sod doubtless lie the bones of 
many Frenchmen, who, in times of peace and war, " for the good of 
their country," gave up their lives — some as soldiers in their country's 
service, others as prisoners of state. Here, too, no doubt, lie the 
bones of many Englishmen, whose lives ended at this historic fort, 
f.ir from their native land, but serving her interests. 

1744—1759- 

By 1744, the time had come when if England ever expected to 
own more than the Atlantic slope of the continent she had to arouse 
herself to greater efforts than mere intriguing with the Indians and 
sending continual remonstrances to Quebec. 

In March of that year war was declared between France and Eng- 
land, and the colonies of New York and New England, in 1745 and 



OLD FORT NIAGARA IN HISTORY. 31 

1746, made united efforts to conquer Eastern Canada; yet England 
failed to aid them to tlie extent promised, and in 1748 the war was 
ended by the treaty of Aix la Chapelle. 

In 1754, though these two nations were nominally at peace, the 
frontier was desolated by the Indians at the instigation of the 
French, and in 1755 four expeditions were planned by the English 
against French territory — one of these, under Braddock, being for 
the recovery of the Ohio Valley. Braddock's army was ambushed 
and routed, and among the spoils captured was his artillery train, 
which was subsequently taken to, and used in, strengthening Fort 
Niagara, which was then garrisoned by 500 men.' 

To another of these expeditions, under Gov. Shirley, of Massa- 
chusetts, was assigned the duty of capturing Fort Niagara. Soon 
after leaving Albany, news of Braddock's defeat was received, and 
many of the men deserted. The troops were delayed at Oswego for 
various reasons, till the season was too late, and Shirley led his forces 
back to Massachusetts. 

War between France and England, though it had existed in 
America for nearly two years, was ol^cially declared in 1756, and in 
that year another attempt to capture Niagara was planned. Changes 
in commanders bred internal army troubles, and when the Earl of 
Loudon finally assumed command, he abandoned the plan that had 
been formed to attack Niagara. 

In 1757, fifty Senecas, headed by one of the principal chiefs of the 
Five Nations, came to Niagara and held a council with Pouchot, who 
was earnestly intriguing to detach the said Five Nations from their 
friendship toward the English." 

In 1758, none of the three expeditions sent out by England was 
directed against Niagara. 

In 1759, three more expeditions were sent out by the English, one 
of them, under Gen. Prideaux, to capture Niagara. 

The English reverses of latter years in America had aroused the 
English Government to the need of a more able management ; and 
under William Pitts' Premiership was commenced the campaign of 
1759 that was to retrieve England's honor and losses, and leave her 
the absolute victor over her great rival on this continent. 

The contemplated attack on Fort Niagara, in 1755, under Shirley, 
had told the French that that fort must be further strengthened, and 
' Col. Doc. N. Y., vol. X., page 326 -Col. Doc. N. Y., vol. X., page 586. 



T,2 OLD FORT NIAGARA IN HISTORY. 

Pouchot, a captain in the regiment of Beam, and a competent 
engineer, was sent to reconstruct it. He reached the fort with a 
regiment in October, 1755. Houses for these troops were at once 
constructed in the Canadian manner. These houses consisted of 
round logs of oak, notched into each other at the corners, and were 
quickly built. Each had a chimney in the middle, some windows 
and a plank roof. The chimneys were made by four poles, placed 
in the form of a truncated pyramid, open from the bottom to a 
height of three feet on all sides, above which was a kind of basket 
work, plastered with mud. Rushes, marsh grass or straw rolled in 
diluted clay were driven in between the logs, and the whole plas- 
tered.' 

The work of strengthening the fort was pushed on all winter, 300 
men beiiig in the garrison, and in March, 1756, the artillery taken from 
Braddock arrived.^ 

By July, 1756, the defenses proposed were nearly completed, and 
Pouchot left the fort. 

Vandreuil stated that he (Pouchot) "had almost entirely superin- 
tended the fortifications to their completion, and the fort which was 
abandoned, and beyond making the smallest resistance is now a place 
of considerable importance in consequence of the regularity, solidity 
and utility of its works." ^ 

Pouchot was sent back to Niagara, as commandant, with his own 
regiment, in October, 1756, and remained there for a year. He still 
further strengthened the fort during this period, and when he left he 
reported that " Fort Niagara and its buildings were completed and 
its covered ways stockaded." ' 

On April 30, 1759, he again arrived at Niagara to assume com- 
mand and " began to work on repairing the fort, to which nothing had 
been done since he left it. He found the ramparts giving way, the 
turfing ail crumbled off and the escarpment and counter escarpment 
of the fosses much filled up. He mounted two pieces to keep up 
appearances in case of a siege. "^ A plan of Fort Niagara in 1759, 
from Pouchot's own work, " Memoires sur la derniere guerre," etc.. 
published in 1781 is given herewith. 

From the general laudatory tone of his own work we are led to 

feel that Pouchot overpraised his own work of fortifying Niagara in 

' Hough's Pouchot, vol. I., page 53. ^Col. Docs. N. Y , vol. VII., page 282. ^Col. 
Doc. N. Y., vol. X., page 411. ■* Hough's Pouchot, vol. I., page 94. -' Hough's Pouchot, 
vol. I., page 142. 



OLD FORT NIAGARA IN HISTORY. 



33 



A.— GaUeritst'icommwxicttUwUh 

the exterior vyorka. 
B. — L'ike Ontario SastiotJ. 
C. — barracks^ Stores otul vestijea 

of the old Fort. 
D.— Niagara Gate 
E.—Sostlon at the hate Of the 

Fm Nation, 



LAC ONTARIO 



\.— Barbette Battery oj 

5 Ouiu. 
1.~ Relief Gate. 

3 — inotier Barbtilg 
Bitlery o(i Giuit 

4 — /nr?ian Hot. 




POUCHOT'S PLAN OF FORT NIAGARA, 1759, 



With the addition of the three parallels built by the English during 
the siege. Inside the fortifications is shown the shape and plan of 
the Old Fort, namely, that built by De Nonville in 1687, whose shape 
was no doubt retained after 1725, when the French built the castle 
(which is shown in this cut in dotted lines), and gradually built the 
fort with bastions around it. 



34 OLD FORT NIAGARA IN HISTORY. 

1756 and 1757, when no immediate attack was looked for, otherwise it 
could hardly have been in so poor a condition eighteen months after- 
w^ards (1759, as first quoted), unless, as is very like)}', he foresaw defeat 
when attacked, as he was advised it would be, and wanted to gain special 
credit for a grand defense under very disadvantageous conditions. 

By July Pouchot had finished repairing the ramparts. He gives 
this description of the defense : 

"The batteries of the bastions which were in barbette had not yet 
been finished. They were built of casks and filled with earth. He 
had since his arrival constructed some pieces of blindage of oak, four- 
teen inches square and fifteen feet long, which extended behind the 
great house on the lake shore, the place most sheltered for a hospital. 
Along the faces of the powder magazine to cover the wall and serve 
as casemates, he had built a large storehouse with the pieces secured 
at the top by a ridge. Here the guns and gunsmiths were placed. 
We may remark that this kind of work is excellent for field-forts in 
wooded countries, and they serve very well for barracks and magazines, 
a bullet could only fall upon an oblique surface and could do little 
harm, because this structure is very solid." ' 

Pouchot says that the garrison of the fort at this time consisted of 
149 regulars, 183 men of colonial companies, 133 militia and 21 can- 
noniers. 

A total of 486 soldiers and 39 employees, of whom 5 were women 
or children. These served in the infirmary, as did also two ladies, 
and sewed cartridge bags and made bags for earth." 

There were also some Indians in the fort, and the of^cers may 
not have been included in this number. The fort was capable of ac- 
commodating 1,000 men. 

A corvette, called the Iroquoise, fully manned and carrying ten or 
twelve guns, arrived at Niagara July 6th, and, during the early part 
of the siege at least, its commander placed himself under Pouchot's 
orders. 

THE BRITISH BESIEGE THE FORT. 

On July 6th an English army, which had been collected at Oswego, 
under command of Gen. Prideaux, consisting of 2,200 regulars and 
militia, and 750 Indians under Sir Wm. Johnson, arrived at the Little 
Swamp, about four miles east of Fort Niagara, and threw up an 
entrenchment. 

' Hough's Pouchot, vol. I., page 161. "Hough's Pouchot, vol. I., page 161. 



OLD FORT NIAGARA IN HISTORY. 35 

Prideaux had hardly gotten out of sight of Oswego before a force 
of Canadians and Indians under La Corne arrived there, intending to 
surprise and capture the phice, and cut off the troops from joining in 
the attack on Niagara. But the French did not make the most of 
tlieir opportunity for a surprise, and the EngHsh threw up breast- 
works, and on two successive days repulsed the attacks of the 
French. 

Pouchot says of this attack on Oswego, " If all our forces had fol- 
lowed the first detachment, we might have taken these English troops 
very easily, because they were surprised and much disconcerted at the 
first moment. Had this body been defeated Niagara would have been 
saved, as their army could not have received the troops and supplies 
that were sent for them." ' 

In which view, considering the history of the siege of Fort Niagara, 
I think Pouchot is entirely wrong. 

On the evening of July 6th one of the garrison, who had been out 
hunting, rushed in and told Pouchot that he had seen an Indian war- 
party. A reconnoitcring force was sent out, which learnt the truth 
of the hunter's report, by encountering a volley that drove it back to 
the fort. 

Fully satisfied that a siege was about to be begun, Pouchot, while 
communications were still open, sent a messenger to the French posts 
in the south-west, calling on their garrisons and the friendly Indians 
to come to his aid. 

In spite of warnings Pouchot seems to have been taken somewhat 
unawares, or he would have had all needed available troops at Fort Ni- 
agara, instead of having to send for them at the very last possible 
moment. 

Pouchot's messenger stopped first at Fort de Portage or little Ni- 
agara, a dependency of Fort Niagara, which had been erected by the 
French at the upper end of the Portage, a mile or more above the 
Falls, about 1750. This was now commanded by Chabert Joncaire, a 
younger son of that Joncaire who secured the consent for Fort Ni- 
agara's ultimate erection through the Senecas' cession to him for a 
cabin at Lewiston. Pouchot ordered him to retreat to Chippawa, on 
the Canada side of the river, and just opposite, if the English ap- 
peared, the dependency being in a weak condition. Joncaire removed 
all the movable property to Chippawa Creek, burned the buildings in 
'Hough's Pouchot, vol I., page 2og 



6 OLD FORT NIAGARA IN HISTORY. 



Fort Little Niagara, and hastened to Fort Niagara, where his brother 
had preceded him.' 

Prideaux's army consisted of the P'orty-fourth and Forty-sixth 
regiments, the Fourth Battalion of Royal Americans, two battalions 
of New York troops, a detachment of the Royal Artillery and a large 
body of Indians, many of whom had till recently been hostile to the 
English, under Sir William Johnson,' whose success in this campaign 
added to his already great reputation of being the best Indian 
manager that England ever had on this continent. His name must 
forever be closely associated with the history of Fort Niagara. 

It is impossible in this article to treat of the details of this 
memorable siege. For these, from the French side, I refer the reader 
to Pouchot's " Memoires sur la derniere guerre, etc.," published in 
1 78 1, a very rare book. Hough's translation, 1S66, is obtainable with 

greater ease. 

For the English view I refer him to Alante's History of the late 
War in North America, 1772. That part of the Journal of Sir Wil- 
liam Johnson published by Stone in his life of the Baronet is also 
an authentic record of events soon after the surrender and as to his 
dealings with the Indians at that time and later. 

On July 8th the English leconnoitered, and on the 9th Prideaux 
sent a captain of the Royal Americans, Blaine by name, with a letter 
to Pouchot, demanding his surrender, which was refused; and that 
night the English, who had already sent a force to occupy the river 
bank and the roads south of the fort, thus completely hemming Fort 
Niagara in by land, began opening a trench east of the fort, and on 
the nth they erected batteries. Parleys between some Indians in 
the fort and the Indian chiefs in the English army were held outside 
the fort, firing on and from the fort being suspended meanwhile. 

Several other parleys followed during several successive days, but 
Sir William Johnson's influence proved strong enough to keep the 
great majority of his Indian allies from abandoning the English and 
suddenly becoming neutral, and thus Pouchot's hopes and attempts to 
detach the large body of Indians from the besiegers proved futile. 

The English, working especially at night, slowly but steadil}-, built 
three trenches, all east of the fort and each one nearer than the 
former, the last one being only about one hundred yards from the 
outworks. They kept adding new batteries, from which showers of 

' Hough's Pouchut, vol. I , page 166. -' Hough's Pouchot, vol. I., page 159. 



OLD FORT NIAGARA IN HISTORY. ij 

hot shot and shell were poured upon the fort night and day. Those 
in the fort replied almost continuously, and each morning battered 
those new works which the English had built during the night. The 
cannonading on the part of the besiegers, however, was carried on with 
the most vigor. 

On the 17th the English had occupied the west bank of the river 
at its mouth, and thrown up works and mounted batteries on the then 
called " Montreal Point," and attacked the fort from that side also. 
This caused much alarm and danger to those in the fort, and com- 
pelled them to erect defenses, as that side of the fort was protected 
only by an entrenchment. 

On the 19th General Prideaux was killed in one of the trenches 
by the bursting of a shell from a cohorn, before which he was pass- 
ing. The command of the English forces devolved on Sir William 
Johnson, who carried on the siege with even greater vigor. The 
continued firing had on the 22d made a large breach in the walls 
of the fort, the battery and parapet of the flag bastion being com- 
pletely demolished, and into this breach grape and musketry were 
continuously poured in a way that one of the garrison described as 
terrific. 

On the 22d hot shot was poured into the fort from both sides; 
fires were started by them in several places, but, b}' great precautions 
and risk, the fires did no great damage, although man}' of the fort 
buildings were of wood. 

By the 23d the garrison were in straights. Sacks to be filled with 
earth and used to repair the damage by shells were all u«ed. There 
were no cannon wads left, and even hay, used in their place, was not 
on hand — and the mattrasses on the beds, both the covering and the 
straw, had been used up. The arms were also in such bad condition, 
that scarcely one gun in ten was of service. 

On the morning of the 23d, under a white flag, four Indians came 
to the fort. They brought two letters from D'Aubrey and De Lignery, 
the French commanders at Venango and Presque Isle, in answer to 
Pouchot's summons for aid — the earlier one saying they were about 
starting, and the other telling of their arrival at Navy Island, just 
above Niagara Falls, and asking for information and advice. 

Pouchot had sent word that the English besiegers might number 
5000, besides 4000 Indians, and the replies said 1600 French and 1200 
Indians were comings to his aid. 



38 OLD FORT NIAGARA IN HISTORY. 

PoLichot sent four copies of his answer, one by each of the messen- 
gors, hoping, as proved to be correct, that one might reach its destina- 
tion. 

On the 29th firing was heard south o*" the fort and an Indian later 
brought in word to Fouchot that the French relieving party had been 
routed. Trembling for the safety of this important post, D'Aubrcy and 
Del ignery had sailed with their forces and coming down the Niagara 
River (appearing like a floating island, as the river was covered with 
their bateaux and canoes) had first landed on Navy Island, then crossed 
the river to Fort Little Niagara, and hurried along the shortest 
route to Fort Niagara. 

Sir William Johnson, apprised of their movements by his Indian 
scouts, on the 23th, leaving a large force in the trenches, to prevent the 
garrison of Fort Niagara from co-operating with D'Aubrey, marched 
south, and, early in the morning of the 24th, met them an eighth of a 
league from the fort, at a place then called " La Belle Famille," in the 
present village of Youngstown, in sight of the fort, whose garrison, 
owing to Johnson's foresight, were prevented from making a sortie, 
as had been planned, as the relieving force approached. His regulars 
occupied the road leading from the falls to Fort Niagara, along which 
the French were advancing, while his Indians were posted on his flanks. 
The French being thus caught in an ambush, and seeing the English 
forces lightly cntren-ched, opened fire on them at short range. 

The English Indians poured a galling fire into their ranks, the Brit- 
ish regulars charged with great fury, and at the end of half an hour the 
French broke and fled in confusion. They were pursued for over five 
miles, one hundred and fifty of them were killed, and ninety-six pri- 
vates and twenty-seven officers, among them the commanders D'Aubrey 
and De Lignery, and the famous Marin, were taken prisoners. The 
Indians of the English force behaved uncommonly well. 

Sir William Johnson soon after sent Major Hervey to Pouchot, de- 
tailing the above events, and demanding his surrender. Pouchot sent 
an officer to the English camp, who saw and talked with the prisoners, 
and returned with the statement that all was true as reported. 

An examination of their fortifications, etc., having been made, a 
conference of the fort officers urged a surrender, and the garrison it- 
self clamored for an end to the siege. 

Pouchot had left but 135 men fit and equipped for duty ; there 
were only 140 guns left that were in condition for service; 24000 



OLD FORT NIAGARA IN HISTORY. 39 

pounds of powder had been burnt, and 54,000 pounds were yet left, 109 
men had been killed or wounded, 37 were sick, and under the most 
favorable conditions the fort could not hold out longer than two days, 
it being in a battered and exposed condition on all sides. 

Pouchot assented to a surrender and contended for the best possi- 
ble terms. 

SURRENDER AND EVACUATION. 

These terms stipulated that the garrison should march out with 
arms and baggage and one cannon, lay down their arms but retain 
their baggage, be transported in vessels, furnished by the British, to 
New York, and that they should be protected from attacks by the 
Indian allies of the English. 

These articles were signed on the night of the 24th, and between 
ten and eleven o'clock on the morning of July 25, 1759, a part of 
the English forces occupied the fort. Johnson had posted troops 
on every side of the fort to prevent the Indians from entering it, 
but an hour after the English troops had entered the Indians scaled 
it on every side, and in half an hour after more than 500 of them 
were inside the ramparts, but they remained quiet. 

The English had asked Pouchot to have the garrison deliver up 
their arms under the pretext that they would then be in a better 
condition to defend the Frenchmen. Pouchot steadily refused, and 
assured them that if it were done they could not restrain their 
Indian allies. His judgment was undoubtedly correct, for if, as it 
turned out, the English could not prevent the Indians from entering 
the fort, it is not probable that they could have prevented them 
from assaulting the French had these been unarmed. 

Pouchot dined Johnson and some officers, and these officers, after 
the dinner, helped themselves to all movables in the room. 

The Indians took everything they could reach, even to door-hinges ; 
they pillaged the King's store-house, and broke open all the barrels of 
flour. 

The French officers had taken the precaution to put some of their 
belongings in the powder magazine; these were saved, but everything 
else was carried off by the victors. 

The English officers probably took first pick of everything, the 
soldiers had the next chance at what was left, then the Indians were 
allowed to pillage the foit, which they did most thoroughly. 



40 



OLD FORT NIAGARA IN HISTORY. 



The garrison was drawn up in line of battle on the parade ground, 
their arms in their hands, their haversacks between their legs. Their 
officers were with them, and in this position they remained for 
30 hours, or until the time for embarkation. 




FRENCH MAG-:: \l. -^■... . -HRACKS. 

The Indians at first tried to take the arms from the men as they 
s^-ood in line. Pouchot had warned his men not to use their weapons 
acrainst the Indians, but, if attacked by them, to kick them or strike 
them in the stomach with their fists, for it was of no consequence to 
an Indian to be struck in this way, nor would other Indians take his 
part, as they would, were he struck with a sword or a gun. The men 
obeyed their orders, struggled for and retained their arms. 

Had the wind permitted the bateaux in which the English had 
come from Oswego to be gotten out, it was Pouchot's intention to 
send a part of the garrison away before giving up possession of the 
fort, but this proved impossible. 

On the afternoon of July 26th, the garrison, with guns on their 
shoulders, drums beating, and with two cannons at the head of the 
column, marched out of the fort and down to the beach. Here they 
laid down their arms, entered the boats that were in readiness, and 
started for Oswego. 



SIR WILLIAM JOHNSON. 

Good diplomat that he was, with such an unruly^ crowd as his 
Indians were likely to be, Sir William Johnson seems to have been 
willing to grant as favorable terms of surrender as he consistently 
could. 



OLD FORT NIAGARA I.V rilSTOR)'. 41 

lie had cstablishctl for himself a new line oi fame — a miHtar\- 
commander. He wanted to have the glory of capturing the great 
Fort Niagara ; he did not want any delay that would enable Prideaux's 
successor, who proved to be Gen. Gage, to reach the spot and be in 
command at the surrender. His one aim was to take Fort Niagara. 
He succeeded; and as the last of the French garrison put off in the 
bateaux on their journey to New York, he must have stood on the 
broken ramparts, his mind filled with pleasant thoughts. 

He had won for England, and won by his own energy and diplo- 
macy, that spot which she had craved for fully 80 years. Innumer- 
able times had the suggestion for the erection of a fort here b}' 
force been made to her by various ones of her colonial of^cers. 
Seventy-one years before she had caused France to abandon the fort 
that that nation had erected here ; but for the last 33 years that 
hated rival had maintained here a center of commercial and military 
power. 

Now all was changed. The English flag floated over the long 
coveted spot, and the credit of its capture, at the time and for all 
time, belonged to him — Sir William Johnson. 

BRITISH CONTROL. 

Sir William Johnson's diary gives the number of prisoners in the 
garrison as 607 men and 1 1 ofificers, besides women and children. Of 
the relieving force which he routed, he captured 27 out of 30 officers, 
whom he ransomed. I'linety-six prisoners, and 150 scalps, taken in 
the rout of this relieving force, he divided among the several nations 
of his Indian allies.' 

The English losses during the siege, including the action of Jul}- 
24th against the relieving force, he states as 60 killed and 1 80 wounded, 
besides three Indians killed and five wounded.'^ 

The ordnance stores captured in the fort were 43 iron cannon of 
various sizes, 1,500 round shot, 40,000 lbs. musket balls, 500 hand 
grenades, besides axes, hatchets, picks, shovels, etc., for use in erect- 
ing fortifications — also tomahawks, scalping knives, etc. 

Let us here note the presence, in the besieging army, of two men, 
whose names will appear again later on in this narrative. 

Joseph Brant, the great Mohawk chieftain, later one of the greatest 
Indians of history (in some particulars one of the best, in others 

' Stone's Life of Sir Win Johnson, vol. "A, page 395. ^ Stone's Life of Sir Win Johnson. 
vol. II, page 396 



42 OLD FORT NIAGARA IX HISTORY. 

far from it), was with Sir William Johnson's Indian allies at the siege, 
then a lad only seventeen years of age. 

John Butler, noted later on as commander of Butler's Rangers, 
father of the notorious Walter Butler, was second in command of the 
Indians, until Johnson became commander of the army at Prideaux' 
death, when he succeeded him as leader of the Indian contingent. 

After the capture John Butler was a m^ember of the council estab- 
lished at Fort Niagara for the trial of civil cases. 

In view of this successful siege, as well as the conquest of Quebec 
and Ticonderoga in this campaign, it is interesting, and even amusing, 
to read the criticisms on Pitts' plans for 1759. 

"The Niagara expedition was a mistake in the judgment of some 
military critics, since the troops directed to accomplish it had been 
used more effectively in Amherst's direct march to Montreal 
More expedition on that general's part in completing his direct march 
would have rendered the fall of Niagara a necessity without attack. 
Perhaps the risk of leaving French forces still west of Niagara, 
ready for a siege of Fort Pitt, is not suf^ciently considered in this 
view." " 

Parkman also considers this siege an error. ^ 

But Niagara had been captured, to the glory of the British army. 

Johnson at once set to work to put Niagara in a defensible condi- 
tion, and remained there for ten days. 

On July 28th, Gen. Prideaux and Col. Johnson of the Provincial 
troops were buried in the fort chapel with great ceremony. Sir Wil- 
liam himself being chief mourner." 

This reference to the chapel, and the fact that a priest was among 
the prisoners taken, shows that the P'rench always paid attention to 
the spiritual need of their soldiers, though probably not purely for 
religious reasons ; and, further, that the priestly influence in state 
councils was still powerful. 

Johnson made plans, also, for the building, at Niagara, of two ves- 
sels, of from 16 to 18 guns each, considering them necessary for the 
military protection of P^ort Niagara and Oswego. He also sent for a 
number of carpenters to repair Niagara. 

In the fort there remained a few French officers and privates, pris- 
oners who were not able, by reason of wounds or sickness, to be 

' Winsor Narrative and Crit. Hist, of Am , vol. V., page 600. ^ Parkman, Montcalm and 
Wolfe, vol. II., page 253. "Stone's Life of Sir William Johnson, vol. II., page 395. he 
copies the latter's diary. 



OLD FORT NIAGARA IN HISTORY. 43 

moved. Orders were given by Johnson to have all possible care taken 
of them, not to allow any Indians to have any communication what- 
ever with them, and when thc\' were recovered to have them sent 
safely to Oswego. 

As to the Indians found friendly to the French they were to 
be civilly treated ; inducements to trade, at prices better than the 
French had given, were to be held out to them ; but not more than 
twenty of them at a time were to be admitted to the fort. 

The artillery and stores were to be put in proper order and the 
artillery placed to the best advantage. 

On August 4th Johnson embarked for Oswego, leaving P'ort Nia- 
gara in charge of Col. Farquhar of the 44th Regiment, with a garrison 
of 700 men, which ^\•as afterwards reduced to a peace-footing of 200. 

For several }-ears after the capture of Fort Niagara, Sir William 
Johnson was — so far as the Indians living within a radius of 300 miles 
of that fort were concerned — the most important and the most 
trusted man in America. He had lield that position for some time 
toward all the tribes east of the Senecas, and now that the French 
were beaten he logically and naturally extended his influence over 
those who sided with the French, and now looked for favors from the 
victors. 

The real seat of his influence, though he resided much farther 
east, was at Niagara. There after the capture he had met many 
warriors and some sachems of recently hostile tribes, and had paved 
the way for bringing them under English influence and trade. His 
orders to Col. Farquhar as to his treatment of these Indians w^ere ex- 
plicit. He was in frequent communication with the officers at Niagara, 
and it was on his advice and through his personal influence that England 
extended and maintained her power over the tribes in all directions. 

In the fall of 1760, Major Robert Rogers, sent b\' Gen. Amherst 
to officially visit several of the former French Posts, arrived, with two 
companies of his Rangers, in whale boats, at Niagara; and, after a 
brief visit, taking 80 barrels of provisions from the stores here, pro- 
ceeded on his way West.' 

In 1 761, Sir William Johnson stayed several days at Niagara on his 
way to, and also on his return from, Detroit, and busied himself wnth 
directions as to the Indian trade, and took i)ains to walk over and 
examine his old encampment of 1759. 
' journal of Major Robert Rogers. 



44 



OLD FORT NIAGARA IN HISTORY. 



In 1761, the English re-estabHshed a dependency of Fort Niagara at 
the upper end of the portage above the falls. 

Near where Fort Little Niagara, burned in 1759 as noted, had 
stood, they erected a fortification, and named it Fort Schlosser, after 
Captain John Joseph Schlosser, who had charge of its erection. He 
was a German, who had served in the English arm\- at the capture of 
Fort Niagara.' 

Shortly before the siege the French had prepared the frame work 
for a chapel at Fort Niagara. It is uncertain whether it was set up 
or not, but probably it was. The English, in 1761, took this frame 
work over the portage to Fort Schlosser, set it up there and used 
it for a mess house. 

In 1762. the English built the present " bake house." 







In 1762, the Indians became dissatisfied, because some of the 
English traders had commenced building dwelling houses along 
the portage, which was in violation of existing agreements, and later 
on in that year the commandant at Fort Niagara was ordered to put 
a stop to any settlement on the carrying place. 
' Col. Docs. N. v., vol. X , page 731. 



OLD FORT NIAGARA IN HISTORY. 45 

Fort Niagara was still the spot where, aiui its commander the 
man to whom, all Intlian grievances were brought, and through 
him all such disputes were settled, and by him all decisions were 
enforced. 

Such was Fort Niagara when the English first controlled it. It 
was the head centre of the inilitary life of the entire region, the guar- 
dian of the great highway and portage to and from the west ; and 
hereabouts, as the forerunners of a coming civilization and frontier 
settlement, the traders were securing for themselves the greatest 
advantages. 

To the rude transient population — red hunters, trappers, Indian- 
ized bush rangers — starting out from this center, or returning from 
their journeys of perhaps hundreds of miles to the West ; trooping 
down the portage to the fort, bearing their loads of peltries, and 
assisted by Indians, who here made a business of carrying packs 
for hire. Fort Niagara was a business headquarters. There the 
traders brought their guns and ammunition, their blankets, and cheap 
jewelry, to be traded for furs; there the Indians purchased, at fabu- 
lous prices, the white man's "fire w^ater," and many, yes, numberless, 
were the broils and conflicts in and around the fort, when the soldiers, 
under orders, tried to calm or ejected the savage element which so 
predominated in the life of the garrison. 

On February 10, 1763, peace between France and England was 
formally concluded, and by it France ceded to England all her 
Canadian possessions. 

THE devil's hole >L\S.SACRE. 

In the fall of 1763, Pontiac had organized his great conspiracy, 
and the Senecas, whose hostility to the English had been noted by 
Sir William Johnson two years before, and which was partly due to 
their bitterness at their loss of the business at the portage — English- 
men now monopolizing that business, and employing carts, instead of 
Indian carriers — were ready to, and did, co-operate with him, urged on 
thereto, no doubt, by French influence and intrigue, in what they 
hoped would prove the means of driving the English from Fort 
Niagara. This hostility of the Senecas had made it necessary to 
maintain a garrison at the foot as well as at the head of the portage ; 
and for large or valuable trains, guards of soldiers were furnished 
from the fort. 



46 OLD FORT NIAGARA IN HISTORY. 

On September 14, 1763, a new portage road had been finished 
between Lewiston and Schlosser, and a train of 25 wagons and 100 
horses and oxen, guarded by troops from Fort Niagara, variously stated 
at from 25 to 300, set out for Schlosser.' At the Devil's Hole, the 
Senecas, to the number of 500, ambushed and pillaged the train, 
threw the wagons and oxen down the bank, and slew all but three of 
the escort and drivers. Hearing the firing, the garrison at Lewiston, 
consisting of two companies, hastened to help their comrades. But 
the Senecas had prepared an ambush also for this expected action, 
and all but eight of this force were killed. Some of these eight 
carried the news to Fort Niagara, whence the commander, with all 
the soldiers, leaving a sufficient guard for the fort, hastened to the 
scenes of the slaughter. The Senecas had fled, but over 80 scalped 
corpses, including those of six officers, bore bloody witness to their 
hatred of the English.'^ 

In November, 1763, these savages still haunted the neighborhood, 
and killed two of the garrison at the lower end of the portage, as 
they were cutting wood in sight of their quarters. 

Fort Niagara needed to be maintained and well garrisoned. 

On the collapse of Pontiac's bold and partly successful scheme, 
the Senecas, fearful of receiving at the hands of the English the 
punishment they so richly deserved, sent, in April, 1764, four hundred 
men to Sir William Johnson at Johnson Hall to beg for peace. ^ 

Now was the time for England to make the Senecas pay off the 
Devil's Hole debt, and Sir William Johnson was the man to force 
the settlement. 

Yet he was too shrewd to think of demanding life for life, or any 
galling condition that would have involved England in a war for 
the extermination of the Senecas. 

No, he desired most of all that the Senecas should be the 
friends of the English, and so he made them pay for their past 
misdeeds in land. 

England already had the occupation of this territory along the 

Niagara River. She wanted also the unquestioned fee. Here was 

Sir William's chance, and he improved it. He insisted that, beside 

other conditions, the Senecas should cede to England (as if they 

had not already deeded it to her three or four times) all the land 

' Holland Land purchase, page 229. Narrative of Mary Jemison, 1826, page 142. 
- Stone's Life of Sir William Johnson, vol. IL, page 208. ^ Stone's Life of Sir \Vm. Johnson, 
vol. IL, page 215. 



OLD FORT NIAGARA IN If /STORY. 47 

on both sides of the Niagara River from Lake Ontario to Schlosser, 
thus taking in Fort Niagara and her two dependencies (at Lewiston, 
which was really only a camp, and at Fort Schlosser) and the port- 
age. The Senecas assented, provided the land be always appro- 
priated to the king's sole use, and provided that a definite treaty be 
had within three months, and that the lines be run in i)resence of Sir 
William Johnson and the Senecas, so as to preclude any subsequent 
misunderstandings. Eight chiefs signed the agreement, which, by 
the way, they never intended to keep, although they left three of 
their chiefs with Johnson as hostages.' 

THE GREAT TREATY OF 1 764. 

Before this visit of the Senecas, arrangements had already been 
completed by the British to prevent the recurrence of another con- 
spiracy like that of Pontiac. All the tribes whose friendship, with i\ 
reasonable expectation of its permanency, could be obtained by pres- 
ents and good treatment were to be secured in this way. 

Against all others, armies were to be sent to crush and overawe 
them. 

The occasion when the above treaty with the Senecas was to be 
ratified was a general meeting of all Indian tribes who desired peace, 
at Fort Niagara in July, 1764, to which Johnson had already invited 
them, in order to readjust their relations with the English Govern- 
ment. 

Two military expeditions were planned, one for the West, under 
General Bradstreet, 1,200 strong, which assembled at Oswego in June, 
1764, where it was joined by Sir William Johnson, with 550 Iroquois. 
They reached Niagara July 3, 1764, and found there such a scene of 
life and activity as one can hardly conceive of to-day. 

In this expedition was Israel Putnam, a lieutenant-colonel of the 
Connecticut Battalion." 

Over one thousand Indians, representing many tribes, extending 
from Nova Scotia to the head waters of the Mississippi, whose num- 
bers but a few days later were increased to 2,060, were assembled to 
meet and treat with Johnson.^ 

Such a representative concourse of Indians had never before been 
seen. 

' Col. Docs. N. Y., vol. VII., pages 621, 622, 623. ^Turner's Holland Purchase, 1849, 
page 234 ''Stone's Life of Sir William Johnson, vol. II., page 2ig 



48 OLD FORT NIAGARA IX HISTORY. 

Their wigwams stretched far across the fields and to this pictur- 
esque scene were now added the white tents of Bradstreet's men. 

Many reasons had induced this great assemblage of Indians. 
Some came to make peace because tlie aid expected from the French 
had not been forthcoming; some because they were tired of war; 
some because they needed clothing, ammunition, etc., and could 
get them in no other way; some to protest their friendship for 
the English ; some by an early submission to avert retribution for 
past offenses ; some came as spies, and some, no doubt, because 
they knew that at such a time "fire water" would be easily 
obtainable. 

Alex. Henry, the trader, tells how the Great Turtle, the Spirit that 
never lied, on being consulted as to what course the Ojibways should 
pursue, told them the English soldiers were on the war-path already, 
and also said, "Sir William Johnson will fill your canoe with presents, 
with blankets, kettles, guns, gunpowder and shot, and large barrels of 
rum, such as the stoutest of the Indians will not be able to lift, and 
every man will return in safety to his family." ' 

The Ojibways accepted Johnson's invitation and were present. 

Henry himself came to Niagara at this time, and accompanied 
Bradstreet westward. 

Though this assemblage consisted of peace-desiring savages, their 
friendly disposition was not certain. Several straggling soldiers were 
shot at, and great precautions were taken by the English garrison to 
avert a rupture. " The troops were always on their guard, while the 
black muzzles of the cannons, thrust from the bastions of the fort, 
struck a wholesome awe into the savage throng below." ' 

But among all the throng the Senecas were not represented, in 
spite i)f their promise to ratify their agreement at this time. 

They were at home, considering whether they would keep it, for 
they had already made an alliance with other tribes against the Eng- 
lish. Notice was sent to them, that unless they at once fulfilled their 
agreement, the army then at Niagara would forthwith march against 
them and burn their villages. A large body of this war-like tribe, 
overawed by this menace, at once went to Niagara. 

It took all the diplomacy, shrewdness and influence of Sir William 
Johnson to preserve order and peace among the savages, many who 
had been hostile to each other, and but lately fighting against the 

' Henry's Travel, iSog, page 171. '^ Parkman, Pontiac, vol. II., page 170. 



OLD FORT NIAGARA IN HISTORY. 49 

English, and the business of the asseniblage detained him at the fort 
for a month. 

The council-room (which was located in the castle) was crowded 
from morning till evening; but the tiresome formalities which had to 
be observed on such occasions, the speeches made and the replies 
thereto, the smoking of pipes, the distribution of presents, the judici- 
ous serving out of whiskey, the terms of each treaty, the tax on the 
memory of remembering what each belt of wampum given by and 
received from each tribe meant, while fatiguing, were finally success- 
fully brought to an end. 

One point of policy was rigidly adhered to. Johnson would 
hold no general conference ; with each tribe he either made a separate 
treaty, or where satisfactory treaties were already in existence he 
merely brightened the chain of friendship. By this course he made 
the best of terms, by promoting a rivalry among the tribes. He also 
thus discouraged a feeling of union and of a common cause among 
them.' 

First of all he met the Senecas, and, till their agreement had been 
ratified and the lines of the land to be deeded to England had been 
settled. Sir William would transact no other business. 

The Senecas ratified their former agreement, and on August 6th 
they deeded to the English crown a strip of land four miles wide on 
each bank of the Niagara River from Lake Erie to Lake Ontario, 
thus adding to their former agreement all the land from Schlosser to 
Lake Erie, on both sides of the river. Gen. Bradstreet had asked 
Johnson to try and get this extra cession, in order that England 
might have title to the land where P'ort Erie, at the source of the 
Niagara River, on the Canada side, now stands. He was anxious to 
build a depot for provisions there. Johnson asked for it. The 
Senecas were ready to do anything asked of them while that English 
army was on the ground, so they readily assented. They specially 
excepted from their grant, and gave to Sir William Johnson person- 
ally, as a gift, all the islands in the Niagara River, and he promptly 
gave them to his Sovereign.^ 

This was the first tract of land in the limits of the present 
Western New York to which the Indian title was absolutely extin- 
guished, and this remarkable land deal, so vast in the amount of ter- 
ritory involved, so beneficial to the whites in the power it gave them 

* Parkman, Pontiac, vol. II., page 174. "Col. Doc. N. Y., vol, VII., pape 647. 



50 OLD FORT NIAGARA IN HISTORY. 

for trade, and the settlement of the country, and of such enormous 
subsequent value in view of very recent developments along this 
frontier, was closed 132 years ago, within the historic fortifications of 
Fort Niagara. 

From this time on, for fully 30 years, especially during the 
Revolution, the Senecas were allied with and espoused the cause of 
the English. 

The treaties with the many other tribes were then arranged with- 
out difficulties. On August 6th, Sir William Johnson seems to have 
completed the formalities by having a separate treaty with each tribe, 
with which a new treaty was desired, officially signed. 

So fearful was Johnson that some unforeseen occurrence might 
prevent the successful carrying out of this stupendous negotiation, 
and so anxious was he about rumors of an attack on Fort Niagara by 
this savage assemblage, that Gen. Bradstreet's army, now increased to 
over 2,000 English and Canadians and 1,000 Indians, was detained at 
Fort Niagara till August 8, 1764. 

By that date the Indians, having made theii peace and secured their 
presents, had started for their homes, the great assembly had melted 
away, the danger of any attack, that the garrison was not strong 
enough to resist, was past ; and Gen. Bradstreet, leaving an addition 
to the garrison at Fort Niagara, marched his army to Fort Schlosser, 
there to embark for the west.' The cost of this Indian congress at 
Niagara was considerable. The expense of provisions, for the Indians 
only, was ^25,000 New York currency, equal to about $10,000, while 
;^38,00O sterling, or ^190,000, was expended for the presents made to 
them.'^ It was money well spent by England. 

1764— 1776. 

During Sir William Johnson's administration of Indian affairs after 
1759, the Common, now the Military Reserve on the Canadian side, 
was used as an Indian camping ground, and there annually the Six 
Nations and the Western tribes congregated within gunshot of the 
fort, to receive their annual gifts and allowances from the British 
government. 

Let us note that when the French built the first stone house at 
Niagara, in 1725, they did not build it close to the water, either of the 

' Mante, History of Late War in N. A., page 511. - Montresor Journals, N. Y. Hist. 
Soc, 1881, page 275. 



OLD FORT NIAGARA IN HISTORY. 51 

river or the lake. In those days, all through the eighteenth century, 
and during the first third of this century, a large tract of land, that 
has now been washed away, existed at the foot of the bluff, extending 
to the northwest for some thirty rods right out into the lake ; and in 
the memory of men now alive* a fruit orchard stood on this land, 
where now is a depth of ten or twelve feet of water. Quite a strip of 
land also extended out beyond the present shore line into the river, 
opposite the castle and above it. 

As evidence of this, turn to Pouchot's plan of the fort, on 
page 33, where this large area is shown as existing in 1759. The 
French Mess House, or Castle, was originally built, not on the edge of 
the bluff, but probably one hundred feet from both the lake and river 
side. 

A further evidence of the existence of this, now washed-away land 
is the fact that on the lake side of the fort, just opposite the angle 
of the wall, where stand the three poplar trees, plainly visible when the 
water is low, and generally visible from the wall, though overgrown 
with water moss, are the perfectly traceable remains of a half-moon 
battery used in those early days, undoubtedly part of the north demi- 
bastion, which was re-established in 1789, and used in 1759." The 
English are said to have added a story to the " Castle." ^ 

The first story was built by the French in 1725, as noted before, 
and the second was probably built by them soon afterwards. 

It is not certain, but probable, that the roof of the Castle had 
been adapted to defensive purposes, and the stone walls carried 
up beyond the roof, to serve as a breastwork for gunners there. 
The extra story that the British added to the Castle, was probably 
the present timbered roof through which so many chimneys pro- 
trude. 

The two square stone block-houses now standing within the forti- 
fications were built by the French,^ and the walls carried up beyond the 
roofs. Sheltered by these walls, batteries were placed on the roofs, 
and were used as late as the War of 1812. The present roofs on these 
two block-houses are modern affairs. 

The present roof over the old French magazine is also a modern 
one, being merely a cover over the great stone arch, which is the real 
roof of the building. 

' Notably Mr. Thomas Brighton of Youngstown, N. Y. • Hough's Pouchot, vol. I., 
page 168. ^Turner's Holland Purchase, page 189. ■■ Rochefoucault's Travels, 1799, vol. 
J., page 257. 



52 OLD FORT NIAGARA IN HISTORY. 

In 1767 Captain Jonathan Carver, a well-known English traveler, 
visited the fort, which, he said, "was defended by a considerable gar- 
rison." ' 

One of the traditions that has clung to the fort, and that started 
in the days of English occupation, is, that in the dungeon of the Mess 
House, before referred to, where there is a well, now boarded over, 
at midnight could be seen the headless trunk of a French general, 
clothed in his uniform, sitting on the curbstone of this well and moan- 
ing, as if beseeching some one to rescue his body from the bottom of 
the well, where, after his murder, it had been thrown. This well was 
subsequently poisoned and its use necessarily discontinued. The 
well inside the earthworks, and near the sally port, is possibly the well 
referred to in the list of buildings left by the French when they dis- 
mantled the fort in 1688, though I think this is improbable, and that 
it belongs to a much later period. 

From 1767 on till the opening of the war of the Revolution one 
finds but little public history in connection with the fort, though its 
importance was in no way diminished, but rather increased. 

DURING THE REVOLUTION. 

While the war from 1 776-1 783 never reached this spot in actual 
hostilities, Fort Niagara was the spot where heartless Britishers and 
still more blood-thirsty savages studied, planned and arranged those 
terrible attacks on defenseless settlers that on so many occasions 
spread death and devastation through prosperous settlements and 
regions, and carried off, most frequently to this fort, wretched cap- 
tives whose term of captivity in the hands of the savages was usually 
only a living death. The history of Fort Niagara during its entire 
existence has no blacker nor fouler page, nay none nearly so black nor 
inhuman, as that which embraces the years 1776-1783. 

Far away from the actual seat of war, feeling perfectly safe from 
attack, its British Commandants seem to have given free scope to 
every form of Indian warfare that, regardless of its inhumanity, would 
in any way aid in crushing out the colonists. 

During this period portions of several regiments of British Reg. 

ulars in succession garrisoned the fort. It was necessary for England 

to maintain it with a strong garrison, in order to impress the savages 

by show of force, and to keep them continually aroused to the 

'Carver's Travel, 1781, page 170. 



OLD FORT NIAGARA IN HISTORY. 53 

necessity of aiding the English by constant expeditions, organized 
and sent out from here, of devastation and death. 

Sir William Johnson had lost a part of his influence over the 
Indians during the few years prior to his death, which occurred in 1774. 

Had he been alive, I would do his memory the justice to believe 
that the inhumanities planned at and executed from Fort Niagara, 
during the Revolution, would never have been allowed, to the extent 
at least that they attained. ""^ 

In all his domination over the Indians, and he exe>cised a one-man 
power for many, many years, he recognized tiiat a nation, to be thor- 
oughly successful, must not forfeit the public confidence of the world 
by too great atrocities. 

The atrocities perpetrated from Fort Niagara during the Revolu- 
tion only added to the determination and exertions of the colonists 
to throw off the British yoke ; and the stories of these atrocities gave 
France an extra excuse to extend the friendly and needed aid that she 
furnished, at first secretly, afterwards openly, to those who were 
struggling for their freedom from the rule of her hated rival and her 
recent conqueror in North America. 

On the commencement of hostilities in 1776, a great council of 
Indian tribes was called to meet at Fort Niagara, and here in Sep- 
tember gathered representatives of the Six Nations and ten other 
tribes, favorable to the English. The assembled chiefs all signed a 
manifesto in favor of the Crown, and appealed to the Oneidas and Tus- 
caroras, who were not fully represented, to join them.' Some of these 
afterwards complied. Then, after the customary distribution of pres- 
ents and " fire-water," the braves were sent back to gather together 
their tribes for the war-path, to put on the war-paint and to sharpen 
their tomahawks. 

JOHN BUTLER AND JOSEPH BRANT. 

John Butler and Joseph Brant both made Fort Niagara their real 
headquarters during the Revolution, and, no matter who was in actual 
command of the fort, these two were the recognized leaders, respec- 
tively, of the English and the Indian forces there. 

The former recruited from all over the country, but most largely 
from Western New York and Northern Pennsylvania, the famous 
band known as Butler Rangers, and their headquarters were at the 

' Stone's Life of Brant, vol. IL, page 4, note. 



54 OLD FORT NIAGARA IN HISTORY. 

Fort. Thayendanegea or Brant, the great captain of the Six Nations^ 
gathered his Indians from all sides, and Fort Niagara was their ren- 
dezvous. 

Each of these two great leaders had many great and good qualities. 
There was no international code of warfare actually recognized at that 
time, particularly so far as regarded Indian warfare, and they were, no- 
doubt, influenced to many atrocities by the customs of the age. 
Many barbarities committed by troops under their immediate com- 
mands, were in violation, it is claimed, of their orders and in spite of 
their influence; while those perpetrated by parties sent off from their 
commands and outside of the orders given, should not be charged 
against them. They both repeatedly issued orders for the sparing and 
protection of women and children, and both on many occasions, by 
their personal influence, saved many lives. Yet both were regarded 
as death-dealing and devastating foes, and with good reason. 

Walter Butler, a son of John Butler, was also a leader of these ex- 
peditions sent out from Fort Niagara to kill, rob and destroy, and in 
unsavory memory he outranked his more famous father and even Brant. 

It should be here noted that just prior to the revolution Brant had 
led a band of the Mohawks to Lewiston, where he lived in a block 
house, which stood near what was called Brant's Spring. The huts 
of his followers were located along the Ridge road, east of Lewiston.' 
A little log building near by was built and used as a chapel, and here 
the episcopal service was read occasionally by the fort chaplain or 
traveling ministers. This was probably the first building, outside of 
Fort Niagara, erected for a church in this section. A good-sized bell, 
hung in the crotch of a tree near by, called the Mohawks to service. 
John Bulter, who was superintendent of Indian affairs, lived in a com- 
modious house in Fort Niagara. 

On these foraging parties, largely planned by Brant and Butler, 
during the Revolution, Fort Niagara to a very large extent relied for 
means of subsistence, and on every raid, from far and near, cattle 
and supplies were regularly sent back to the fort, their base of 
operations. 

In each and every year, from 1778 to 1782, these foraging parties, 
and still larger expeditions, were regularly sent out from the fort, and 
as regularly as provisions were sent back, just as regularly were pris- 
oners and scalps brought back within its walls. 
'Turner's Holland Purchase, page 265. 



OLD FORT NIAGARA IN HISTORY. 55 

The fearful massacre of Wyoming in Pennsylvania in 1778 was 
planned at and the expedition set out from Fort Niagara. The fatal 
attack on Cherry Valley in the same year was the result of another 
expedition sent out from the same fort. 

From the commencement of the war, the colonists had endeavored 
by every means to secure, if not the aid, at least the neutrality of the 
savages, and, while they kept up their efforts in this direction, by 
emissaries sent among them, they proved to be futile. 

The desire to capture Fort Niagara was continually in the minds 
of the Colonial leaders, but not till late in 1778, when the atrocities, 
perpetrated b)' bands from that far-off stronghold made its reduction 
seem a matter of necessity, was an expedition planned for its capture. 

The Senecas were faithful to the English, and urged incessant war 
on the Colonial settlements, and in 1779 Gen. Washington sent Gen. 
Sullivan with a small army to chastise them, even as De Nonville 
had done eighty-seven years before, and ordered him then to proceed 
to and capture Fort Niagara. 

Sullivan entered the Senecas' territory with 4,000 men, burned 
their villages, provisions and crops, and defeated them in several small 
engagements. They fled westward to the protecting guns of Niagara, 
and Sullivan, for some reason, the ostensible ones being lack of food 
for his army and lack of boats to transport his troops, gave up the 
rest and the most important part of his projected expedition, and 
Fort Niagara was saved. 

Had he pushed on, he would have found a horde of nearly 5,000 
famished savages around the fort, and a weak and sickly garrison 
within, and he could have easily captured it. But he lacked the abil- 
ity to seize the great chance offered him, and Niagara remained in 
British hands, a scourge to the colonists for three years to come. His 
expedition merely prepared the way for the famine and want the 
Senecas soon felt. 

The winter of 1779 was very inclement and many of the savages 
around the fort died from exposure and starvation.' In the early 
spring of 1780 some disposition had to be made of these hundreds of 
Senecas. They could not be tolerated around the fort and be fed 
from there, and they refused to go back to their lands from which 
Gen. Sullivan had driven them. Brant during the winter had strongly 
urged the Mohawks and the Senecas to emigrate to Canada. The 

' Turner's Holland Purchase, page 281. 



56 OLD FORT NIAGARA IN HISTORY. 

Mohawks and a few from other tribes agreed to this, and went. But 
the Senecas, under the lead of one of their chiefs, refused, and decided 
to settle on Buffalo and Tonawanda creeks, where they claimed to 
own the land through their ancestors' conquest of the Neuters in 
165 I. They had deeded this to England, as mentioned in 1764, but 
that nation made no objection. These Senecas and their descendants 
subsequently became allies of the United States, and fought in our 
army in the war of 1812. 

Some of the Oneidas and Tuscaroras, who had been allies of the 
English, and had fled to Fort Niagara before Sullivan's advance in 
1779 were also about Fort Niagara. In the spring of 1780 part of 
them returned to their own land and a part settled on a square mile 
of land some four miles southeast from Fort Niagara, near the Ridge 
Road, where their descendants to-day reside. This land was given to 
them by the Senecas. In 1804 the Holland Land Company gave 
them two square miles more, — these and over 4000 more acres 
bought for them, constitute the Tuscarora Reservation of to-day. 

The Tuscaroras thus became the first permanent settlers in this 
region, settling here 17 years before the Holland Land Company 
opened up the territory.' 

In 1780 and 1781 expeditions were sent out from Fort Niagara with 
the same deadly purposes and results ; notable among them being 
two expeditions to the Mohawk Valley in 17S0, and two others 
to the same district in 1781, in the last of which Walter Butler was 
slain. 

Opposite Fort Niagara, on the Canada side, each winter Butler's 
Rangers lived, and at one time six companies of them were quartered 
there. Outside of and near the fort a few wretched savages built 
huts each winter and eked out a precarious existence, subsisting on 
what they could obtain from the scant remains of the garrison's 
rations. Two sons of Sir William Johnson, Sir John and Guy, both 
leaders of and agents in the British Indian Department, were promi- 
nent during the Revolution, and both were frequently at Fort Niagara 
during this period. 

During the winters of the war-period the garrison of the fort were 
often on short rations, and the necessity of provisioning it for a long 
period was frequently represented to the British Ministers, but with- 
out any favorable reply. 

' Turner's Holland Purchase, page 183. 



OLD FORT NIAGARA IN HISTORY. 57 

Let us now look at the moral and social life within Fort Niagara 
during the period of the Revolutionary War. 

DeVeaux says, " During the American Revolution it was the 
headquarters of all that was barbarous, unrelenting and cruel. Here 
were congregated the leaders and chiefs of those bands of murderers 
and miscreants that carried death and destruction into the remote 
American settlement. There civilized Europe revelled with savage 
America, and ladies of education and refinement mingled in the society 
of those whose only distinction was to wield the bloody tomahawk 
and scalping knife. There the squaws of the forest were raised to 
eminence, and the most unholy unions between them and officers of 
highest rank smiled upon and countenanced. There in their strong- 
hold, like a nest of vultures, securely for seven years, they sallied forth 
and preyed upon the distant settlements of the Mohawk and the 
Susquehanna. It was the depot for their plunder; there they 
planned their fora)s," and there they returned to feast until the hour 
of action came again.' 

Many men, including especially Butler's Rangers, obtained during 
their service in the Revolution a training for war that enabled them 
to render efificient aid to Great Britain against the United States in 
the war of 18 12. 

The Revolution ended in victory for the Colonies in 1783. The 
Canadian side opposite Fort Niagara then became the objective 
point of many of those colonists who sided with the British during 
the war, many of whom had here enlisted in Butler's Rangers, and 
many of them settled there; such settlements having been especially 
encouraged hereabouts by the British ofificials during the war. 

Among the clauses in the Treaty of Peace at Paris, 1783, was one 
that provided protection to and time for those colonists who had 
sided with England, United Empire Loyalists, as they were called, 
and who were then living in the colonies, in order that they might 
dispose of their property ; and the English commissioners to that 
treaty, appreciating how unpopular these U. E. Loyalists would be 
while they remained among their victorious neighbors, and foreseeing 
that it would be difificult, if not impossible, to get all the separate 
colonies to ratify such a clause as the American commissioners 
agreed to, insisted on retaining possession of five western forts, con- 
ceded to be an American territory, until such time as the conditions 

' The Falls of Niagara, 1839, page 119. 



58 OLD FORT NIAGARA IN HISTORY. 

named were fulfilled. This also was agreed to by the American com- 
missioners. Fort Niagara was one of these forts. So, in 1783, we 
entered into what is called in history " the hold-over period," which 
lasted for 13 years, a much longer time that any of the commis- 
sioners on either side had contemplated. 

THE HOLD-OVER PERIOD. 

The treaty of peace in 1783 only suspended hostilities, and when 
soon after Gen. Washington, sent to arrange for the evacuation 
of the posts still held by the British, he found no such instruc- 
tions had been given to their commanders. A full consideration of 
England's real reasons for delay in this matter is not a part of our 
subject, but it is pretty certain that even till after the war of 1812 
England hoped, for one reason and another to be able to hold these 
forts forever, and ultimately to regain the vast empire she had just 
surrendered by compulsion to her American colonists.' 

Gov. Simcoe, formerly colonel of Simcoe's Rangers, a noted British 
regiment in the Revolution, often and openly expressed this view 
while holding the high position of Governor of Upper Canada.'' 

As many of the U. E. Loyalists as could do so prepared as 
speedily as possible to remove to Canada, and the majority of those 
who went westward, in distinction of those that went to northeast 
Canada, came by Niagara, and all of them who were in need were fed 
during their stay here, from the fort. 

It is estimated that during 1783 and 1784 no less than 5,000 of 
the United Empire Loyalists emigrated to Canada, at this point, and 
this emigration continued up to 1790, by which time fully 10,000 had 
passed by and received aid at Fort Niagara. 

In 1784, John Butler, who was the Indian superintendent at the 
fort, convened a great Indian council on the Niagara plains, in Canada, 
opposite the fort, where the Six Nations met the Mississaguas. The 
commons were covered with their wigwams and the shore was lined 
with their bark canoes. 

The summer of 1788 was an almost rainless one. There were no 
crops raised, and that year is known as the " Hungry Year." Stores 
were issued liberally from the fort during 1789 and 1790 to all in 
need, otherwise many would have starved. 

' Rochefoucault's Travels, 1799, ^ol. I., pages 240 and 241. '' Read's Life and Times of 
Gov. Simcoe, page 251. 



OLD FORT NIAGARA IN HI STORY. 59 

In 1790, H. R. H. the Duke of Kent paid a visit to Fort Niagara 
and personally interested himself in the distribution of food and 
clothing to the needy Loyalists. 

During the first half of the hold-over period the English kept the 
strictest surveillance over this whole frontier, and persons traveling 
hereabouts were more than liable to be arrested and taken to Fort 
Niagara by the Indians, unless they could exhibit a pass from the 
commandant, which pass, as the Indians could not read, was a thick 
piece of card having on it a large wax seal bearing a particular im- 
pression. 

A trader, stopping at Fort Niagara, called on the commander, who 
asked where he was going. " To Chippawa," he replied. "Go along 
and be damned to you," was the answer and verbal passport he re- 
ceived. 

A fine specimen of British civility during the "hold-over period." 

In the fall of 1789, Gother Mann commanding the Royal Engineers 
made a report on Fort Niagara. After referring to the re-establishing 
of the north demi-bastion, which had been greatly damaged and part- 
ly washed away by the fury of the lake, he goes on to speak of a 
survey of the heights on the Canada side of the river about Navy Hall, 
later Gov. Simcoe's residence, with a view of establishing a perma- 
nent fort there, "which might counteract the designs of an enemy in 
his attack on the Fort of Niagara." In 1790, in another report, he 
stated " that the space on whicli Fort Niagara stands is diminishing, 
from the depredations of the lake " and speaking of the proposed 
fort said, "it will be about 1600 yards distant from the Fort at 
Niagara, which, though within the distance of annoying an enemy, 
could not prevent his carrying on operations against the Fort." ' 
Thus we see that Fort George, which was built at a time when 
England never expected to be obliged to surrender Fort Niagara, was 
originally designed, not as an opposition to, but as a defense for that 
fort. 

In 1791, Patrick Campbell was here and wrote, "It is a pretty 
strong stockade fort with regular bastions, palisades, pickets and dry 
ditches, sufificient against the attack of any irregular army." " 

By the act of 1791, Upper Canada was formed into a separate 
government and Col. J. Graves Simcoe was made its first Governor. 

' Read's Life and Times of Gen. Simcoe, page 154. - Travels in North America, 1793, 
page 169. 



6o OLD FORT NIAGARA IN HISTORY. 

He selected the village opposite Fort Niagara as the capital of the prov- 
ince. It had been called West Niagara, as distinguished from the 
British-controlled fort on the East, Loyal Village, Newark and 
Butlersburg. 

On British soil, yet a border town, his selection of the site was 
much criticized. But Fort Niagara controlled it, the British con- 
trolled Fort Niagara, and he wanted to be near that famous fort, 
and he then expected England would always retain it.' 

Here on September 17, 1792, he convened the first Parliament of 
Upper Canada. It has been claimed, yet not substantiated, that this 
body met in the fort itself. 

However, the garrison took part in the ceremonies, a guard of 
fifty men from the Twenty-sixth Cameronians from the fort formed 
part of the military escort, and the guns of the fort fired a salute at 
the hour of assembling. 

The fort was under the Governor's control and his guard of four 
men at Navy Hall was drawn each day from Fort Niagara's garrison.'' 
He had the garrison also as his guard on all occasions. From the 
fort was fired a royal salute in honor of his Majesty's birthday, June 
4, 1793, and no doubt on other similar occasions, and it was as much 
a British fort during this period as if it had stood on British soil. In 
1792 the York, the first Canadian Merchant vessel ^ on Lake Ontario 
was built just east of Fort Niagara. 

In 1793, Gen. Lincoln, Col. Pinckney and W. Randolph, United 
States Commissioners, arrived at the fort on their way to a great 
council with the Western Indians, and were handsomely entertained, 
both at the fort and on the Canadian side, by Gov. Simcoe. 

In 1794, the fort was strengthened by the erection of some new 
works, " especially covered batteries, designed for its protection on 
the side of the lake and river." ^ 

Eleven years had now passed since the Revolution closed, and 
England yet held the five American forts. This caused much dis- 
satisfaction. Yet the United States neither wanted to, nor could they, 
afford to, risk another war with the British over their occupation. 

So, in Jay's Commercial Treaty of 1794, Article 2, provided, that 

the British garrisons in all the forts assigned to the United States by 

the Treaty of Peace of 1783, should be withdrawn by June i, 1796. 

' Rochefoucault's Travels, 1799 ; vol. I., page 229 - Rochefoucault's Travels, 1799-; vol. 
I., page 241. " Read's Life and Times of Gov. Simcoe, page 271. •* Rochefoucault's Travels, 
1799, vol. I., page 257. 



OLD FORT NIAGARA IN HISTORY. 6i 

This was a better way at that time of gaining our rigiits than by 
war, especially as the United States were not free from blame in car- 
rying out the terms of the Treaty of 1783. 

In 1795 the Duke de Liancourt visited this section, and the Gover- 
nor entertained him on the Canada side; also dining him at the fort, 
which he told him " he was very loath to visit, since he is sure that he 
shall be obliged to deliver it up to the Americans." ' 

The garrison consisted then of thirty artillery men and eight com- 
panies of the Fifth Regiment. All the breastworks, slopes, etc., 
were lined with timber. On the land side it had a curtain flanked 
by two bastions, in each of which a block house has been construc- 
ted, mounted with cannon." The Duke adds : " Although this fort, 
in common with all such small fortified places, cannot long with- 
stand a regular attack, yet the besiegers cannot take it without a 
considerable loss." " 

In 1796, in anticipation of their total withdrawal from American 
soil, the British transferred their patronage over the portage to a 
similar road built for that purpose on the Canadian side, between 
Queenston and Chippawa. 

Work was also commenced in that year, and rapidly pushed, on 
a new block-house located up stream diagonally opposite Fort Ni- 
agara, on the Canada side, on land that commanded Fort Niagara, 
being nine feet higher than the roof of the Castle in that fort. 

This block-house was designed to receive the British garrison 
from Fort Niagara' and Fort George, an earth fort, was built ^ 
around it at once. 

In less than seventeen years Fort George was destined to ex- 
change an extensive cannonade with Fort Niagara in the War of 
1812. 

During all this " hold-over period " the British of^cers at Fort 
Niagara exercised a certain sort of civil jurisdiction in the neighbor- 
hood. From the capture of the fort in 1759 the seat of civil jurisdic- 
tion of all this territory was at the fort; and after the evacuation, 
there being no Federal Courts here, the British ofificers, of necessity, 
continued to exercise this jurisdiction, and they exercised it wisely. 

At last June i, 1796, the day set by treaty for the evacuation 

arrived, but none of the five forts were evacuated. Why? Because 

• Rochefoucault's Travels, 1799, vol. 1., page 257. ' Rochefoucault's Travels, 1799, ^ol. 
I., page 257. 'Weld's Travels, 1799, page 300. ^ Read's Life and Times of Gov. Simcoe, 
page 268. 



62 OLD FORT NIAGARA IN HISTORY. 

the United States were not ready to occupy them, not even Fort 
Niagara, the most important of the five. 

So badly indeed had the United States' army been supplied with 
provisions that, when notice was sent to the Federal general by the 
British officers that they had received orders to deliver up their 
respective posts pursuant to the treaty, and that they were prepared 
to do so whenever he was ready to take possession of them, an 
answer was returned that unless the British officers could supply his 
army with a considerable quantity of provisions on arriving at the 
lakes, he could not attempt to march for many weeks.' 

A British statement, but in general substantiated by fact. 

The United States Government had sent no soldiers to garrison 
these forts and had sent no provisions for a garrison. Hence the 
delay was really at their wish." 

THE EVACUATION, 

On August I ith, the order having been duly presented, the British 
evacuated Fort Niagara and transferred the garrison consisting of 
fifty men, guns, ammunition, stores, etc , across the river. As the 
banner of St. George came down from the flag pole at Fort Niagara 
on that day, the British emblem floated over but one spot on Ameri- 
can soil, Millimachinac, which was not surrendered up to the United 
States until the following October. 

So Niagara was the next to the last post evacuated in America. 

Gov. Simcoe had arranged to remove the capital of Upper 
Canada to York, now Toronto, and it was so removed in 1796. 

ISAAC weld's views. 

Soon after the evacuation in September, 1796, an English traveler 
of note, Isaac Weld, Jr., visited Fort Niagara, and wrote: 

" Toward the water it is stockaded, and behind the stockade, on the river side, a 
large mound of earth rises up, at the top of which are embrasures for guns. On the 
land side it is secured by several batteries and redoubts, and by parallel lines of 
fascines at the gates and in various parts there are strong block-houses, and facing 
the lake within the stockade stands a fortified stone house. The fort and outworks 
occupy about five acres of ground and a garrison of 500 men, and at least from 30 to 
60 pieces of ordnance would be necessary to defend it properly. The federal garrison 
consists, however, of only 50 men, and the whole cannon in the place amounts 
merely to four small field pieces, planted at the four corners of the fort. . . . 

' Weld's Travels, page 302. " Howard L. Osgood, Rochester, N. Y. 



OLD FORT NIAGARA IN HISTORY. _ 63 

Great additions were made to the worlds after the fort fell into the hands of the British 
(1759), . . . Every part of the fort now exhibits a picture of slovenliness and 
neglect, and the appearance of the soldiers is equally devoid of neatness with that of 
their quarters." ' 

Later he adds : 

" The chief strength of the old fort is on the land side. Towards the water the 
works are very weak, and the whole might be battered down by a single 12-pounder 
judiciously planted on the British side of the river." '^ 

Referring to the " hold-over period," he says : 

" The American prints, until the late treaty of amity was ratified, teemed with the 
most gross abuse of the British Government, for retaining possession of Fort Niagara 
and the other military posts on the lakes. After the independence of the States had 
been acknowledged and peace concluded, it was never taken into consideration that 
if the British Government had thought proper to have withdrawn its troops from the 
posts at once immediately after the definite treaty was signed, the works would, in 
all probability have been destroyed by the Indians, within whose territories they were 
situated, long before the people of the States could have taken possession of them, 
for no part of their army was within hundreds of miles of the posts, and the country 
through which they must have passed in getting to them was a mere wilderness; but if 
the army had gained the posts the States were in no condition immediately after the 
war to have kept in them such large bodies of the military as would have been abso- 
lutely necessary for their defense whilst at enmity with the Indians, and it is by no 
means improbable but that the posts might have been soon abandoned. The reten- 
tion of them therefore to the present day was in fact a circumstance highly beneficial to 
the interests of the States, notwithstanding that such an outcry was raised against the 
British on that account, inasmuch as the Americans now find themselves possessed of 
extensive fortifications on the frontiers in perfect repairs, without having been at the 
expense of building them or maintaining troops in them for the space of 10 years." ^ 

This was also a British view but there was a great deal of justice in it. 

On the evacuation of the fort the American public papers paid 
some nice compliments to the English officers for their friendly atten- 
tions, their extensive gardens being left in full bearing.* A plan of 
Fort Niagara made in 1801 shows these gardens extending along the 
lake front east of the earthworks, so that they then covered that part 
of the ground where the English dug their parallels and planted their 
batteries during the siege of 1759, which had not been washed 
away by the encroachments and the storms of Lake Ontario. The 
comparatively small matter of leaving the iron shutters on the win- 
dows of the castle was overlooked, and these were all taken down and 
carried to the new British blockhouse." 

' Weld's Travels, 1799, pages 300 and 301. '^ Weld's Travels, 1799, page 306. * Weld's 
Travels, 1799, pages 302 and 303. ^Weld's Travels, 1799, pages 302 and 303. ' Life of 
DeWitt Clinton, 1849, page 124. 



64 OLD FORT NIAGARA IN HISTORY. 

The British, however, generously left fifty barrels of pork for the 
use of the new Federal garrison.' 

The British commandant at the evacuation was Col. Smith, who 
led the British in the fight at Concord in 1775. It has been said "Col. 
Smith may with propriety be said to have participated in both the 
opening and the closing acLs of the American Revolution." ' 

1 796-1 8 1 2. 

The advantages which the Americans, particularly those in any 
way interested in the carrying trade between the east and west, 
expected to derive from United States control of Fort Niagara 
were overestimated. 

Soon after the evacuation, in September, 1796, Captain BrufT, 
the commandant at Fort Niagara, called an assemblage of the 
sachems and warriors of the six nations at that place, to exchange 
sentiments of peace, friendship, and mutual aid. 

At the close of the Revolution (the "whirlwind" as they called 
it) these warriors finding they were left by the British under the 
control of the United States naturally felt alarmed as to what 
treatment they might expect, as they had been hostile to the 
colonists — the Thirteen Flames as they called them. 

Finding that the conquerors were ready to overlook the past and to 
treat them with justice, they buried the tomahawk and became good 
friends and peaceable neighbors of the Americans. 

So when the British finally evacuated Fort Niagara, which had 
been the great headquarters of England's influence so far as the Six 
Nations were concerned, it was fitting that at that spot the chain 
of friendship between these savage warriors and the United States 
should be brightened and vows of continued friendship interchanged. 

Among the gifts bestowed on this assemblage, besides provis- 
ions, clothing and a barrel of rum, was a large United States flag. ^ 

From 1796 to 18 12 there is but little public history in connec- 
tion with the fort. 

In 1799, the United States Customs District of Niagara was cre- 
ated by act of Congress. It included the American shores and 
waters of Lakes Erie and Ontario, west of the Genesee River, and 
of the Niagara River. 

'Weld's Travels, 1799, P^ge 302. ' Lossing History of War of 1812, page 40S. 
^ Turner's Holland Purchase, page 347. 



OLD FOKT NIAGARA IX HISTORY. 65 

Fort Niagara was tlic [)oit of entry, and remained so till 181 i, 
when tlie port was removed to Lewiston. 

In 1799, in anticipation of another Indian outbreak, the garrison 
was reinforced. 

In May, iSoi, General Wilkinson, who was in command on the 
frontier, was directed to open a military road between Lake Ontario 
and Lake Erie, and, at his direction, Major Porter, commandant at 
Fort Niagara, commenced operations. The road was not completed 
promptly, for in 1802 the United States mail was still carried from 
Utica to Fort Niagara via Buffalo and the Canadian side of the 
river. 

In 1804, Tom Moore spent some time with General Brock at 
Fort George, and doubtless visited F'ort Niagara. 

In 1805, it became necessary to clear out an old sink attached 
to the mess house. In it were found the bones of a woman, no 
doubt the victim of a murder in days gone by. 

In 1S06, George Heriot, Deput}' Postmaster-General of British 
North America, visited the fort, of which he wrote : "The ramparts 
are composed of earth and pickets, and contain within them a lofty 
stone building. The Americans seem to take no measures either for 
its repair or enlargement, as the waters of the lake make progressive 
encroachments on the sandy bank, whose summit it occupies, the 
foundations of the buildings will in a short time be undermined." ' 

In 1 8 10, the commissioners appointed by the State of New York 
to explore the whole route of the projected Erie and connecting canals 
made a digression on their journey to visit Fort Niagara. 

In De Witt Clinton's journal of the trip he says, "We were received 
with a national salute and other military honors." Dinner was served 
in. the castle, which, he said, measured 105x47 feet, and was a complete 
fortification, with prisons, a well and only one door. The fort was in 
a ruinous condition, the only pleasant thing to the feelings of an 
American being the new barracks then in course of construction.'^ 

Among the troops at the fort during this period was one Carroll, 
the band leader, said to be a relative of the famous Irish harper of 
that name, and devoted to music and whiskey. One evening he ap- 
peared on parade drunk, and, when reprimanded by the commandant, 
became so abusive that he was confined in the "black hole" in the 
castle. Here, in the middle of the night, in answer to his yells, he 

' Heriot's Travels, pages 141) and 150. '• Life of De Witt Clinton, iS^g. page 124 



66 OLD FORT NIAGARA IN HISTORY. 

was found in a piteous condition of fright, declaring all the hob- 
goblins and devils in existence had visited him, and begged for 
a light, a fife, and pen, ink and paper, which were granted him. In 
the morning he presented to the other musicians the notes of a tune 
he had composed in the dungeon, and which he called "Carroll's 
Thoughts on Eternity." He composed at the fort several marches 
and waltzes, etc., which delighted the garrison and guests on many- 
occasions. 

From 1796 till the war of 1812 there was a constant interchange 
of civilities between the garrison of the Fort Niagara and the inhab- 
itants of the Canadian village opposite, including the garrison of Fort 
George. Many ties of friendship and, no doubt, of relationship, were 
severed hereabouts by that war. 

When it commenced, there was a yard on the north side of 
the castle, between it and the pickets, some forty feet v/ide, and 
beyond the pickets a space wide enough for two people to walk on 
abreast.' 

The fort was then surrounded on three sides with strong pickets 
of plank, firmly planted in the ground and closely joined together, a 
heavy gate in front of double plank, closely studded with iron spike. 
This was enclosed by a fence, with a large gate just on the brow of 
the hill, called the Barrier Gate." The fourth side was defended by 
embankments of earth, under which had formerly been barracks. 
These had been safe, but gloomy, and had been abandoned, and the 
entrances closed before this date; as they had become infested with 
rattlesnakes. So numerous had these vipers become in this breeding 
place, that the soldiers not only did not dare to enter these barracks, 
but it was impossible to cross the parade ground without meeting 
them. 

WAR OF 18 1 2. 

The ofificial declaration of the war, made June 18th, reached Fort 
Niagara June 26th, a day after the news had reached the Canadian 
Frontier by private messengers sent to his agents hereabouts by John 
Jacob Astor, who had vast commercial interests at stake. 

According to the commandant's private admiission, the fortifications 
were out of repair, there was scarcely an}^ arms or ammunition, and 
only one company of soldiers in the fort, showing great negligence on 
the part of the War department. 

' Turner, Holland Purchase, page 191. -Turner, Holland Purchase, page iSS. 



OLD FORT NIAGARA IN HISTORY. 67 

Work was immediately commenced to repair the picket and earth 
fortifications, and the well in the mess house was uncovered and 
cleaned out. 

A heavy cannon was drawn into the porch of the castle, new 
embankments were thrown up and cannon mounted; comi)any after 
company of militia soon came pouring in from the east and south, 
raw and undisciplined recruits, gay with any and every sort of uniform 
and armed with any available weapon. 

To make room for these welcome defenders, the officers' families 
were obliged to vacate their quarters in the fort and were sent away 
into the country. ' 

Soon there appeared at the fort about a hundred young power- 
ful and active Tuscarora Indians, from their Reservation near by, 
decorated with war paint and armed with tomahawks and hatchets. 
Headed by the chief, they had hurried down to offer their assist- 
ance to the United States. At this their first opportunity they 
promptly proved their appreciation of the fair treatment that the 
newly organized Federal government had extended to their race at 
the close of the Revolution. 

Between the declaration of war and the battle of Oueenston 
regulars and ammunition and ordnance were sent to Fort Niagara. 

On August 13, 181 2, Gen. Van Renssalaer, who had been 
appointed to the command of the New York militia, arrived at 
Fort Niagara, but at once proceeded to and pitched his camp near 
Lewiston. 

It was believed that Gen. Brock, then in command of the British 
troops along the frontier, contemplated an attack on Fort Niagara 
and an invasion of the United States, and Gen. Van Renssalaer 
begged for more troops. At this time there were 300 light artillery 
and 1000 infantry of the United States army at Fort Niagara. 

When Gen. Brock returned to Fort George after the capture 
of Detroit, many of the American prisoners taken there, accom- 
panied by women and children, were brought to that fort. In 
September Gen. Van Renssalaer wrote to Gen. Brock relative to 
their condition, to the end that they might be relieved from Fort 
Niagara, and offering to receive the women and children at that 
fort, and by order of Gen. Brock these women and children were 
landed at Fort Niagara." 

' Turner's Holland Purchase, page iqo. - Tupper's Life of Sir Isaac Brock, 1845, page 297. 



68 



OLD FORT NIAGARA IN HISTORY. 



Responding to Gen. Dearborn's insistance that Upper Canada 
should be conquered before winter, Gen. Van Renssalaer planned 
the capture of Oueenston Heights, opposite Lewiston, and prepara- 
tions were made for the attack on October 13th. The flying artillery 





'^^ 



'*" """ ■•SWwBliUwt^«^.'. 




THE SOUTHWEST BLOCK HOUSE. 



under Lieut.-Col. Fenwick, as well as most of the garrison at Fort 
Niagara, were sent to Lewiston. It is not necessary to our subject to 
discuss the details of this battle. 

Gen. Brock was at Fort George expecting an attack, but under 
the belief that it would be made from Fort Niagara. Hearing the 
cannonading he hastened to Queenston, only to seethe heights carried 
by the Americans under Lieut. Wool. He at once sent word to Fort 
George for reinforcements and also an order for an immediate bom- 
bardment of Fort Niagara. 

His instructions were obeyed and Fort Niagara was .again under fire. 
The south block-house in this fort promptly replied and occasionally 
turned its guns on the Canadian village of Newark, where, by reason of 



OLD FORT NIAGARA IN HISTORY. 



69 



the hot shot used (for there was a furnace in Fort Niagara specially 
built for heating cannon balls), many of the buildings were set on fire. 
The cannonading lasted for several hours ; shells also were thrown 
from Fort George, and from these the men in Fort Niagara had no 
protection. This fact, and the bursting of a cannon decided Capt. 
Leonard, who was in command, to abandon Fort Niagara, and with the 
small garrison of about twenty men he started for Lewiston, leaving 
the fort empty. He had proceeded but a short distance when he 
saw the British putting off in boats from near Fort George to occupy 
it. Reconsidering his action, he hurried his men back into it and 




THE NORTHEAST BLOCK HOUSE. 



held it unmolested till the regulars returned very early the next 
morning from Oueenston. 

In rallying his forces to recapture Oueenston Heights Gen. 
Brock was killed. Had he learnt that Fort Niagara was poorly 
garrisoned he was too good a soldier not to have ordered its attack, 
and why Major Evans, who was in command of Fort George, plainly 



70 OLD FORT NIAGARA IN HISTORY. 

seeing the small number of men in the garrison, and Leonard's 
cowardice, as evinced by his retreat, did not promptly storm it, for 
it would have been captured with ease, is unexplained. 

After the battle of Queenston, many of the wounded Americans 
were conveyed to Fort Niagara and lodged in any available place, 
even the cellars of the castle being converted into a hospital. 

The British army after its success at Queenston marched back 
to Fort George — at once a column of victory and a funeral train, for 
it carried the body of its late commander. 

Gen. Brock was buried in a cavalier bastion at Fort George on 
October i6th. Col. Scott, who had been captured at Queenston, 
was then a prisoner at Newark, and at his suggestion. Gen. Van 
Renssalaer issued orders that immediately after the funeral was 
over minute guns should be fired from Fort Niagara, "as a mark of 
respect due to a brave enemy." ' 

Early in the morning of November 2ist hostilities were renewed. 
The British had prepared mortars and planted a long train of battering 
cannon behind breast-works on the margin of the river, under Fort 
George. Five of these batteries and the guns of Fort George bom- 
barded Fort Niagara from sunrise to sunset. 

The garrison of that fort had been reinforced after the 13th of 
October by the 13th Regiment of U. S. troops, but was not yet sup- 
plied with a sufficient quantity of artillery Or ammunition. Col. 
George McFeeley was in command. During November 21st, 2,000 
cannon balls and 180 shells were discharged against Fort Niagara. 

The shells did little harm, but many of the cannon balls, having 
been heated, set fire to several buildings in and about the fort. Thanks 
to the ceaseless efforts of the garrison, none of the buildings were 
burnt. Fort Niagara returned the fire of the British with alacrity and 
vigor. A six-pounder had been mounted on top of the mess house, a 
twelve-pounder on the southwest block-house, other cannon on the 
north block-house. There was an eighteen-pounder in the south- 
east battery, and an eighteen and also a four-pounder on the west 
battery. The Salt Battery, a dependency in the present village of 
Youngstown, mounting an eighteen and a four-pounder, also did 
effective work, and, when their gun wadding gave out during the worst 
of the bombardment, the officers and men tore up their flannel waist 
coats, shirts and trousers to supply their guns. Several houses in 
* Tupper's Life of Sir Isaac Brock, 1845, page 333. 



OLD FORT NIAGARA IN HISTORY. 71 

Newark were set on fire by hot shot during this bombardment, but 
were saved. The mess house at Fort George and some buildings near 
it, however, were set on fire by hot shot and were burned. 

An instance of female bravery at Fort Niagara on this day must 
also be chronicled. A private in the U. S. Artillery, Doyle by name, 
who had been stationed at the fort, was among the prisoners taken 
at Queenston. His wife had remained in the fort and, resenting the 
refusal of the British to parole her husband, she insisted on filling his 
place and doing his duty against the enemy. She accordingly, during 
the bombardment, attended the six-pounder on the Mess house, 
served it with hot shot, regardless of the shells which were falling 
around her, and never quitting her post till the last gun had been 
discharged. 

The bombardment effected nothing of great moment on either 
side of the river. Buildings in both forts were set on fire and the 
works of both were damaged. American marksmanship silenced one 
of the Canadian batteries for a time. The loss of life, fortunately, 
was small on both sides, two being killed and seven wounded on the 
American side, and more on the British side.' 

During the winter of 181 2-1 3 there were no events of note at the 
fort. It was fully garrisoned, for it was by no means improbable that 
the British might, at any time, attempt its capture, and more than one 
of the officers at Fort George across the river formed plans for its 
assault, each hoping thereby to win for himself military fame; but 
none of these plans were ever attempted. Early in 1813, Col. Scott, 
who was among the prisoners exchanged, arrived at Fort Niagara. 

At the breaking out of the war the Mohawk Indians had sided 
with the British, but the Senecas, located near Buffalo, had promised 
not to engage in the war, unless on the side of the United States. 

When the British took possession of Grand Island, which the 
Senecas claimed as their territory, which claim the State of New 
York had recognized, the young Seneca braves could no longer be 
restrained, and they made a declaration of war in writing, said to be 
the first instance of its kind in Indian history. Thp United States 
had been reluctant to employ savages, but the action of the British 
in securing the aid of the Mohawks, caused Gen. Lewis, who com- 
manded Fort Niagara in 181 3, to invite the Senecas to the fort and to 
seek their aid. 

' Official Report of Col. McFeeley's The War, page 109. 



■/■z 



OLD FORT NIAGARA IN HISTORY. 



Three or four hundred Senecas in their war paint came, but on 
learning that they were expected to exert rather a moral influence 
than to use the tomahawk they went away in disgust. 

Their friendly attitude, and later on their active service along the 
frontier, however, were of great benefit to the Americans. 

On April 27th the Americans captured Little York (Toronto), and 
the tremendous explosion of the powder magazine there was plainly 
heard at Fort Niagara. 

On May 8th Commodore Chauncey's fleet brought Gen. Dearborn 
and his victorious army from York to Four-mile Creek, east of Fort 
Niagara, where they landed. As many as possible were quartered 
in Fort Niagara — every available room being occupied and the 
parade ground being covered with their tents. The balance 
encamped at Four-mile Creek. All of the wounded were also 
brought over and cared for at the camp or in houses in the neigh- 
borhood. 

CAPTURE OF FORT GEORGE. 

Gen. Dearborn established his headquarters in Fort Niagara, CoL 
Scott being his adjutant ; and plans were at once made to capture 
Fort George. Being confined to his bed by sickness. Gen. Dearborn's 
orders were issued from his sick room. 

On May 26th, a number of boats which the Americans had built 
at the " meadows," five miles up stream from Fort Niagara, were 
launched. The British battery opposite opened fire on them, and 
as they came down stream the batteries and Fort George cannonaded 
them. Fort Niagara, its batteries and dependencies replied vigorously. 

When night came the boats were safely taken past Fort George, 
and around Fort Niagara to the lake shore, to Four-mile Creek. 

Early on the morning of May 27th the troops were embarked 
from the fort and the camp on the vessels and boats, and at once 
proceeded to the attack. 

The guns of Fort Niagara and its batteries were turned on Fort 
George, The warships took their assigned positions, some to bom- 
bard Fort George and its batteries, some to silence the batteries on 
the lake near where the troops were to land. 

Amidst a terrific bombardment, the men led by Col. Scott, landed, 
drove back the British, captured Fort George, and by noon were in 
quiet possession of every battery on the river, the British fleeing with 
precipitation. 



OLD FORT NIAGARA IN HISTORY. 73 

A storm coming up, the fleet sailed up the river and anchored 
nearly opposite Fort George. 

From May 27th till December, 181 3, Fort George was in the 
possession of the Americans, and the headquarters of the Army of 
the Center was here, and thus on British soil. General Dearborn, 
General Wilkinson, Colonel Scott, General Harrison and General 
McClure of the New York Militia were successively in command, 
and were frequently at Fort Niagara. 

FORT GEORGE ABANDONED. 

On December loth, word came to Fort George that 1,500 British 
regulars and 700 Indians were advancing toward it, with a view to 
its capture and the expulsion of the Americans from Canadian 
soil hereabouts. 

McClure's garrison was not a large one ; only sixty effective men. 
He was not a man of courage. He decided to abandon Fort George 
and to concentrate all his troops in Fort Niagara. 

For about two months he had had in his possession the follow- 
ing, sent from Sackett's Harbor: 

War Department, October 4, 1813. 
Sir, — Understanding that the defense of the post committed to 
your charge may render it proper to destroy the town of Newark, 
you are hereby directed to apprise the inhabitants of this circum- 
stance, and invite them to remove themselves and their effects to 
some place of greater safety. 

JOHN ARMSTRONG. 

Brigadier-General McClure, or officer commanding at Fort 
George. 

McClure had never carried out this order. All of a sudden, in the 
middle of a most rigorous winter, he decided to abandon Fort George. 
Most of the guns were spiked, and all movable stores put on boats. 
Then, falling back on this old order from the war department (which 
had been sent to him long before winter set in, and with the very idea 
of preventing unnecessary hardship), he gave notice to the inhabitants 
of Newark that in a few hours the town would be burnt. This order 
of his own he carried out. The village was set on fire in several 
places, and 150 houses were consumed. While it was burning the 
American troops crossed to Fort Niagara. 



y 



74 OLD FORT NIAGARA IN HISTORY. 

It was a sorry day for that fort (and for the frontier) when it be- 
came the headquarters of Gen. McClure. , 

In such haste was he to get away from the rapidly advancing 
British troops, and to get behind the guns of Fort Niagara, that he 
did not even try and demolish any of the works of Fort George ; and 
his excuse for the burning of Newark, "that it might not be left as a 
shelter for the enemy," was nullified by the fact that he left the 
barracks on the river bank intact, and serviceable tents for 1500 men 
in Fort George.' Several good cannons and a quantity of shot were 
also left behind. 

When the British took possession of Fort George and the ruins of 
Newark it was toward Fort Niagara, behind whose walls McClure, the 
destroyer of Newark, had taken refuge, that their thoughts at once 
turned for revenge. 

Gen. McClure, possibly appreciating this, promptly, on Decem- 
ber 1 2th, moved his headquarters to Buffalo, from whence, on 
December i8th, he issued a proclamation warning the people of the 
preparations of the British to make a descent on the American side 
of the Niagara." 

But he made no provision against it, not even sending a special 
message to the officers in Fort Niagara, trusting solely to his general 
order to them of some days before.^ 

Capt. Leonard had been left in command of that fort, and warned 
that an attack might be expected. It was this same ofificer, I believe, 
who a little over a year before had evacuated this same fort ; but, on 
seeing the British starting to occupy it, had plucked up courage to 
return and hold it. 

Whether he was a traitor, as was strongly suspected, but not con- 
clusively proven, or merely without courage, military ability and fore- 
sight, like too many of the American ofificers who held commissions 
on this frontier during the War of 18 12, his negligence was criminal. 

FORT NIAGARA CAPTURED. 

On their arrival, as they stood gazing on the ruins of Newark, 

Colonel Murray said to General Drummond, " Let us retaliate by 

fire and sword." " Do so," replied that commander, " swiftly and 

thoroughly." 

' British Official Report, Niies Register, vol. V., No. 21. ^ McClure's Proclamation, 
December 18, 1813. McClure's General Order, December 12, 1813. 



OLD FORT NIAGARA IN HISTORY. 75 

So intense was the feeling of the Britishers that preparations were 
rapidly made. On the night of December i8th, a cold, dark night, 
Colonel Murray crossed the river at the " Meadows," five miles above 
Fort Niagara, with one thousand men, British and Indians. Carrying 
axes, scaling ladders and other implements for assault, shielded by 
the darkness, they pressed on to Fort Niagara. The advance pickets 
of the Americans were captured in silence, and the force placed for a 
simultaneous attack at several points — five companies of the looth 
Regiment were to assail the main gate, three companies of the same 
regiment were to storm the eastern semi-bastion, the Royal Scots 
Grenadiers were to assault the salient angle of the works, and the 
Forty-first Regiment was to support the principal attack.' 

These preparations were unnecessary. At four o'clock in the morn- 
ing of Sunday, December 19th, when the assailants reached the main 
gate of the fort, they found it wide open and unguarded. They rushed 
in and seized the sentinels, who, in fright, gave up the countersign. 
There were about 400 men in the garrison, some of them in the hos- 
pital; but enough, had the fort been properly patrolled and the most 
ordinary precautions been taken against a sudden attack, to have de- 
fended it. But the evening before, Leonard, their commander, without 
notice to his officers or instructions to them, had quietly slipped away 
to his home, which was at the meadows, where the assailants landed. 

The occupants of the southwest block-house and the invalids in 
the red barracks jumped from their beds on hearing the noise, and made 
a determined stand, killing half a dozen, and wounding more, of the 
assailing party. 

This resistance was overcome, and the fort was in possession of the 
British before the rest of the garrison were fully awake. Few shots 
were fired ; the bayonet was the weapon' and revenge the watchword. 
Little if any attempt was made to curb the British soldiers' thirst 
for blood, and many of the garrison, especially hospital patients, were 
bayoneted after all resistance had ceased. 

The loss of the Americans was 80 killed, 14 wounded (these figures 
tell the story of British revenge), and 244 made prisoners; and only 
about 20 escaped. 

Col. Murray was wounded early in the attack, and resigned the 
command to Col. Hamilton, "under whose superintendence, it is stated,. 

' Lossing's History of War of 1S12, page 633, he quotes Colonel Murray's official report. 
- Gen. Drummond's Official Report, December 19, 1813. 



76 OLD FORT NIAGARA IN HISTORY. 

the women of the garrison were stripped of their clothing and many 
of them killed, and the persons of the dead officers treated with shock- 
ing indignity." ' 

The spoils of war, captured in the fort, consisted of 27 cannon, 3,000 
stands of arms and many rifles, a large amount of ammunition and 
commissary stores, clothing and camp equipage of every description. 

DEVASTATION OF THE FRONTIER. 

When in full control of the fort, the British fired one of the largest 
cannon as a signal of victory, and Gen. Riall, who, with his blood- 
thirsty soldiers and Indians, was waiting at Oueenston for the news, 
at once crossed his forces to Lewiston, there to commence the devas- 
tation of the frontier. 

Thus inside of 10 days the control of both Fort Niagara and Fort 
George, which included the control of the river, passed, amid scenes 
of slaughter and devastation, from American to British hands, and 
once more the flag of England floated over the ramparts of Fort 
Niagara. 

Bloody as was the vengeance wreaked on the surprised garrison, it 
was not so bad as that inflicted by the British troops and their Indian 
allies, the latter led by British officers in war paint, on the defenseless 
inhabitants living between Fort Niagara and Tonawanda. Almost 
every house in that territory and all movable property was burnt, and 
men, women, children and even babes were slain and scalped. 

Marauding parties from Fort Niagara were sent out and burnt all 
buildings to the eastward for a distance of 18 miles. 

Gen. McClure blamed Capt. Leonard for the loss of the fort, 
charging him with gross neglect. Leonard, within a few days, gave 
himself up to the enemy, retiring with his family to Canada." Later 
he returned and surrendered himself. He was tried by court-martial 
and dismissed from the army. 

The British held undisputed possession of the fort from its capture 
until the close of the war. 

Its occupation was of no direct benefit to England. The entire 
American Frontier was desolate and in ruins. The rest of the war so 
far as this section was concerned, was carried on on Canadian soil ; 
and the rumored and expected attacks, to be made from Fort Niagara 
on the settlement at Batavia and elsewhere, never occurred. 

'J L Thompson, History of the War, 1816, page 186. ' Fay's Official Reports, page 167. 



OLD FORT NIAGARA IN HISTORY. 77 

On March 27, 18 15, under article i of the Treat)^ of Ghent, the 
fort was surrendered to and occupied b}' the United States, and its 
flag has floated over it ever since. 

On August 8, 1817, James Monroe, President of the United 
States, paid a brief visit to tb.e fort. 

In the summer of 1825 the Marquis de Lafayette, the guest of 
the nation, paid a visit to Fort Niagara. Major Thomson, at the 
head of his ofificers, met him outside the fort, and as he entered the 
gate a salute of 24 guns was fired. He dined at the fort, which he 
was told had been much repaired since the war of 1812, so that no 
traces of the damage then done remained.' 

OPENING OF THE ERIE CANAL. 

As already noted, all I^ritish goods shipped to the West had been 
carried over the Canadian portage since 1796; but the great highway 
for American commerce to and from the rapidly settling West was 
from Oswego to Lewiston, to Schlosser, and Buffalo ; and as the 
vessels rounded the point where Fort Niagara stood it gave their 
crews a feeling of pride, and a sense of security, to see on every trip 
the national flag floating over a national fort, garrisoned by national 
troops. 

But the fall of 1825 brought the completion and ofUcial opening 
of the Erie Canal, and the large commerce which had passed this 
way took the new route. The increase of a population, which had 
been largely dependent on the business of the portage, was stopped, 
and Buffalo, the terminus of the Erie Canal, rapidly increased at the 
expense of the territory on the lower Niagara. 

Thus another reason why Fort Niagara should be maintained 
as a defensive work, namely, the protection of an important inland, 
and yet a frontier commerce, which passed under its guns, was 
removed. 

The projection of the Welland Canal, which was completed in 
1829, took away another though a directly opposite reason for Fort 
Niagara's maintenance. Canadian commerce, on taking this new 
and abandoning the Niagara way westward, could no longer, in the 
event of war, be harassed by Fort Niagara's guns. 

So in May, 1826, the troops were withdrawn and the historic fort 
in its entirety left in charge of one man. 
' Lafayette in America, 1829, vol. II., page 213 



78 



OLD FORT NIAGARA IN HISTORY. 



ANTI-MASONIC AGITATION. 

In September, 1826, Fort Niagara was called to the attention of the 
nation and the civilized world, even more prominently than it had 
ever been in all its history, by the Anti-Masonic movement. William 
Morgan, a resident of Batavia, and a Free Mason, had threatened to 
divulge the secrets of that body in print. It is generally credited that 
members of that order, failing to get control of Morgan's manuscript 
revelations, had him arrested on some petty charge and jailed at 
Canandaigua. On being liberated he was thrust into a closed carriage 




WILLIAM MORGAN. 



in waiting and, always accompanied by three men, with relays of 
horses, taken through Rochester, along the Ridge Road to Lewiston, 
and thence to Fort Niagara, where the driver was told to stop near 
the graveyard. Here the four men got out, the carriage was sent 



OLD FORT NIAGARA IN HISTORY. 79 

away, and the party proceeded to the water's edge, got into a boat 
and crossed to Canada, whence, after a two hours' absence, they re- 
turned, and entered the fort. This was after midnight, September 13, 
1826. Preparations had been completed at Fort Niagara for the recep- 
tion of the kidnapped man. He was at once placed in confinement, but 
tradition differs as to where he was confined. The old French 
magazine, the dark cell in the " castle," and the respective dark cells 
in the two block-houses, being all pointed out as the location. A big 
iron key, nearly eleven inches in length, kept in the of^ce of the 
Quartermaster, is shown as the key of " Morgan's dungeon," but it 
throws no light as to that dungeon's location. The magazine seems 
to be the probable location. On September 14th a steam boat, con- 
veying a number of Masons to a meeting at Lewiston, stopped at the 
fort's wharf, and several of those on board went into the fort and 
saw Morgan; others of the party refused to enter it. On the same 
day it was reported at Lewiston "that there was trouble at the fort." 
Morgan remained in confinement for six days, often visited by Masons, 
none others being allowed to see him. He was quite "noisy" at 
first, and his visitors tried to " quiet " him. He refused to give up 
his manuscript, or to tell where it could be found. He begged to see 
his wife and children, and is reported to have said several times that 
he would rather stay in the magazine than be bled to death by the 
doctor. He made inefTectual attempts to break through the heavy 
doors of the building. 

Frequent consultations were held as to what disposition was to be 
made of him. One plan was to settle him on a farm in Canada; 
another, to hand him over to a Masonic commander of some Brit- 
ish war ship ; and another, to drown him in the lake. Masons who ad- 
mitted having participated in these consultations said they strenu- 
ously opposed the last, even to a point of quarreling with their com- 
rades. 

William Morgan was last heard of in confinement in the fort on 
September 19, 1826. He disappeared, and all trace of him was abso- 
lutely lost. 

A tremendous excitement, of course, followed his disappearance. 
Popular tradition said he was taken blindfolded by masked men from 
the fort, forced into a boat, which was rowed out into the lake, and 
that he was dropped overboard, heavy weights being attached to his 
body. 



8o OLD FORT NIAGARA IN HISTORY. 

Investigating committees were appointed everywhere, and Fort 
Niagara thoroughly examined by many of them. The bed of the 
Niagara River near the fort and far out into the lake was dredged for 
weeks, but without result. 

A little more than a year afterwards a body was found on the lake 
shore over twenty miles east of Fort Niagara. A coroner's jury said 
"unknown," but the anti-Masons thought it was Morgan; had it 
exhumed, proved its identification as Morgan and had it removed to 
Batavia and buried. It was " a good enough Morgan for them till 
after election." Additional information having subsequently been ob- 
tained, another inquest was held, and it was proved to be the body 
of one Timothy Monroe. 

Several men, including the Sheriff of Niagara County, the Keeper 
of Fort Nragara, and several citizens of the neighborhood, were ar- 
rested and long afterwards tried. No proof of Morgan's death could 
be produced. None of those sworn at the trials for his abduction 
were at the magazine when Morgan left it, nor could they learn his 
fate. Some witnesses refused to testify, three men plead guilty, and 
one was convicted of complicity in Morgan's abduction. The Sheriff 
of Niagara County was removed from office. 

Thus, within the historic walls of old Fort Niagara, where William 
Morgan was last seen alive, occurred the birth of the Anti-Masonic 
party, which, for years afterward, in Nevv York and several other 
states, exercised such a great political influence. 

Fort Niagara at this time was a desolate place, without a garrison. 
The only house near it was a small ferry house, occupied by the man 
who had charge of the fort. 

No matter what their intentions in regard to him were, it was just 
exactly the kind of a place for Morgan's abductors to confine him in 
while they were deliberating as to what should be their final step in 
their unlawful course ; — being a lonely, uninhabited spot, whose owner 
in those days of slow communication could not interfere with their 
proceedings; located a mile away from any human habitation, on 
this side of the river, and out of the jurisdiction of the people across 
the river. 

MODERN FORT NIAGARA. 

Since 1826 Fort Niagara has not been considered as a really 
defensive work. Indeed, in the early part of that year it was con- 
sidered of so little importance that, as already noted, the garrison 



OLD FORT NIAGARA IN HISTORY. 8i 

was withdrawn, and for about ten years it remained an abandoned 
and deserted post. About 1836 it was re-occupied and garrisoned, 
and has been occupied without interruption ever since. 

In old days in the first story of the Castle was the large mess 
room, used also as an assembly room on all occasions, a large spacious 
apartment from whose windows one looked out on the broad waters 
of Lake Ontario. This famous apartment, wherein the French and 
English commandants at the fort, as representatives of their respective 
sovereigns, met and treated with the various sachems of the Indian 
tribes — wherein were held military and commercial councils and 
social gatherings — has long, long ago been partitioned off into 
several small rooms. Somewhere within the fort, in an unmarked and 
unknown grave, rest the remains of General Prideaux, to whom Pitt 
entrusted the responsible duty of capturing the fort in 1759. 

Somewhere also within the ramparts tradition says sums of gold 
and silver, buried at various times and for various reasons, lie con- 
cealed. Many applications have been made for permission to dig 
for and unearth these treasures, but all have been refused. 

In 1839 the stone wall towards the river was constructed. 

The " Patriot War" in 1837 came very near involving this country 
in another war with England along this frontier; in which case Fort 
Niagara would again have been brought into prominence. But 
England's apology for the Caroline episode prevented such a thing. 

In 1 861 the present brick walls were constructed, outside the line 
of the old earthworks. 

In 1865 a lighthouse was established here, the light being placed 
on top of the "castle." 

In 1873 the present comely lighthouse was erected. 

The entire post has been rebuilt, a few buildings at a time, officers' 
quarters, barracks, hospital, etc., within the past twenty years, all lo- 
cated south of the "old " fort, leaving that as a hallowed memory of 
the past. 

In 1880, the present rifle range was constructed, and is used annu- 
ally by the Department of the East. 

In 1893, a life saving station was established here. 

The land embraced in the fort reserve amounts to 288 acres, and is 
in latitude 43° 15' N., longitude 2° west from Washington. 

And so we come down now to the Centennial of the evacuation 
of the "old" fort by the British in 1796. 



82 



OLD FORT NIAGARA IN HISTORY. 




PLAN OF OLD FORT NIAGARA, 1896. 



1. The Castle, or Mess House ; commenced 1725. 

2. The Bake House; built 1762. 

3. Modern Wooden Houses. 

4. Hot Shot Furnace ; built before 1S12 ; rebuilt later. 

5. French Magazine; built before 1759. 

6. French Barracks ; built 1757. 

7. Southwest Block House; built 1756. 

8. Northeast Block House; built 1756. 

9. Life Saving Station. 
10. Cemetery. 



OLD FORT NIAGARA IN HISTORY. 83 

Part of the 13th Infantry, who came to this place and were in the 
battle of Queenston, in 1812, are now garrisoning Fort Niagara; and 
by a singular coincidence, this centennial finds in command of this 
fort an officer of the same rank, and bearing the same name, though 
serving under a different flag, as he who commanded it lOO years ago. 
Col. Smith ; at this date Col. Alfred T. Smith, U. S. A. 

A BRIEF SUMMARY. 

Such is "a brief history of old Fort Niagara." The spot where it 
stands has been the scene of many contests, beginning with the days 
when the redmen resisted the erection of any sort of a fortification 
here. 

It has seen a fort erected and demolished ; it has seen rival 
European nations plotting, striving and contending for its ownership; 
it has seen, during French rule, the reflection of Parisian life and 
manners and the horrors of a political prison ; it has seen the 
savages sacking the fort, thieving not butchering, for there was peace 
between the French and Indians at the time; it has seen the horrors 
of a siege, and a surrender. 

It has seen the ascendency of the English and the unbridled license 
that their officers of that day gave to their lust and passions. It 
was during the ownership of both these nations the greatest market 
for Indian trade — especially in furs and brandy — in the country. 
To this spot the savages continually flocked, often, yes, very often, 
bringing with them wretched white prisoners, many of whom, to the 
credit of both the French and the English, were ransomed by the 
officers of the fort. 

It has seen the most shameless plans prepared here by British 
leaders and Indian chiefs, the natures of both being as much that 
of fiends as of men formed in the image of their Maker. 

It has seen marauding parties sallying out from here to rob, 
murder and destroy. It has witnessed bloody strife between the 
great English-speaking nations of the old and new world respectively. 

And to-day the old fort remains, as a relic, but bearing within its 
ramparts and in the earthworks outside, the standing records of 
history for at least 150 years back. And with a record back of that, 
which is somewhat traced in this article for over another hundred 
years; and back of that still, is an unknown history when this spot 
of land was owned by tlie Neuter nation. 






34 



OLD FORT NIAGARA IN HISTORY. 



It is sincerely to be hoped that the United States will forever guard 
and preserve these buildings and the earthworks of the old fort, and 
not allow them to be razed or restored. They should be allowed to 
remain intact, as memorials of the history of former generations. 

And so, in the belief that I have proved the statement, I close sub- 
stantially as I began, by asserting that no one spot of land in North 
America has played a more important part, been more coveted, and 
exerted a greater influence, both in peace and war, on the control, on 
the growth, on the settlement, and on the civilization of the country, 
than the few acres embraced within the limits of old Fort Niagara ! 



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